Content providing system, content providing apparatus and method, content distribution server, and content receiving terminal

ABSTRACT

A content providing system comprising a content distribution server and a content receiving terminal connected to each other through a communication channel. The content distribution server includes a content storage unit in which content items are stored in association with at least time information and attribute information concerning the time information, a search unit searching, in response to a content providing request, the content storage unit for at least one content item according to a search condition based on the time information and the accompanying information, and a distributor distributing at least one content item to the content receiving terminal. The content receiving terminal includes a time information input unit receiving the input of time information, a request sender sending a content providing request including the input time information and accompanying information to the content distribution server, and a provider providing at least one content item to a user.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2005-194667 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jul.4, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a content providing system, a contentproviding apparatus, and a content providing method that enable users tosearch a large-capacity storage device for a large volume of content,such as music pieces, movies, and electronic books by using timeinformation as a search key. The invention also relates to a contentdistribution server and a content receiving terminal used for thecontent providing system, apparatus, and method.

In this specification, content is information composed of, for example,music, video (including movies, television broadcast programs, andphotographed images), electronic books (text information, such astheses, novels, and magazines, and still image information), guidanceinformation, web pages, and programs (including game programs).

2. Description of the Related Art

Hitherto, time information, composed of, for example, second, minute,hour, day, month, and year, is stored in a content storage unit inassociation with corresponding content, and when searching for content,the stored time information is used as a key-word.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2004-259313 discloses a recording/playback apparatus that enables a userto easily find desired content. In this recording/playback apparatus,the titles of programs and their recording dates are stored in a contentstorage unit in association with each other, and when the user specifiesa date to search for a recorded program, the title of the found programcan be displayed as a search result.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-139576discloses an apparatus and method for creating albums from image dataobtained through, for example, journeys. Image data is stored togetherwith information concerning the photograph date. Also, informationconcerning journeys, such as departure places, departure times, andfinal destinations, is stored in a server. Then, the places where theimage data have been obtained along a user's route in a journey areestimated on the basis of the photograph date information added to theimage data. Then, image data of images photographed by other personsrelated to the estimated places, or text data, such as a description ofthe estimated places, are read from a corresponding storage unit. As aresult, an album can be created from the image data and the relateddata.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the related art that searches content by using timeinformation, for example, date information, as disclosed in theabove-described publications, one piece of time information related tothe feature or characteristic of a specific item of content is uniquelyassociated with the specific item of content and is stored in a storageunit. Accordingly, since the time information, which is used as acontent search key, has only one meaning, accompanying informationindicating the meaning of the time information, i.e., accompanyinginformation for specifying the type of time information, is notnecessary.

Thus, in a case where various types and items of content are stored in astorage unit, or even if there is only one specific item of content, ifa plurality of pieces of time information having different meanings arestored in a storage unit in association with the specific item ofcontent, it is difficult to apply the related art disclosed in theabove-described publications.

There are some Internet search engines that allow users to specify aspecific date as a search keyword to search for information or sitesincluding the specified date as text information.

In such Internet search engines, however, information or sites includingthe date specified by a search keyword only as text information aresearched, and it is difficult to obtain, as a search result, contentincluding time information as metadata (additional data) (for example, aMoving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file including date information asmetadata), such as music content released at a date specified by asearch keyword, a broadcast program broadcasted at a specified date, ora movie shown at a specified date.

It is thus desirable to provide a system and method that enable toeasily obtain, on the basis of time information, content including timeinformation as metadata when various types and items of content arestored in a storage unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acontent providing system including a content distribution server and acontent receiving terminal connected to the content distribution serverthrough a communication channel. The content distribution serverincludes a content storage unit in which a plurality of content itemsare stored in association with at least time information concerning eachof the plurality of content items and attribute information concerningthe time information, search means for searching, in response to acontent providing request including time information and accompanyinginformation for specifying a range of content items to be searched byusing the time information sent from the content receiving terminal, thecontent storage unit for at least one content item according to a searchcondition based on the time information and the accompanying informationincluded in the content providing request, and distribution means fordistributing at least one content item searched by the search means tothe content receiving terminal. The content receiving terminal includestime information input means for receiving the input of timeinformation, request sending means for sending a content providingrequest including the input time information and accompanyinginformation for specifying a range of content items to be searched byusing the time information to the content distribution server, andproviding means for providing at least one content item sent from thecontent distribution server to a user.

In the content storage unit of the content distribution server, at leastone set of time information concerning each of the content items andattribute information concerning the time information may be stored, andthe request sending means may include the attribute informationconcerning the time information in the content providing request as theaccompanying information.

The content receiving terminal may further include time attributeinformation input means for receiving the input of the attributeinformation concerning the time information, and the request sendingmeans may include the attribute information concerning the timeinformation received by the time attribute information input means inthe content providing request as the accompanying information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the contentstorage unit of the content distribution server, not only timeinformation, but also attribute information concerning the timeinformation is stored in association with each content item. A contentproviding request sent from the content receiving terminal includes timeinformation and accompanying information for specifying a range ofcontent items to be searched by using the time information.

In the content distribution server, the search means searches thecontent storage unit for at least one content item according to a searchcondition based on the time information and the accompanying informationincluded in the content providing request, and then distributes at leastone content item to the content receiving terminal as a search result.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, search can beconducted by using, not only time information, but also accompanyinginformation, as a search condition. Thus, when a plurality of items oftime information and attribute information concerning the timeinformation are stored in the content storage unit, a specific piece ofcontent having a special meaning can be searched by including thecorresponding time information attribute information in a contentproviding request.

If the user specifies time information attribute information asaccompanying information, the time information attribute information canbe included in a content providing request. Then, the user can obtaincontent having a specific meaning represented by the time informationattribute information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible toeasily obtain content including time information as metadata whenvarious types and items of content are stored in a storage unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of a contentproviding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of attribute information concerningcontent stored in a content database provided for a content distributionserver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of acontent distribution server according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the operation panel of a music contentreceiving terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of amusic content distribution server according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the operation panel of an AV contentreceiving terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of anAV content receiving terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate examples of content requesting operationsperformed by the content providing system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 12 through 19 illustrate examples of content distribution modes ofthe content providing system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 20 through 22 are a flowchart illustrating an example of theoperation performed by a music content receiving terminal according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 23 through 25 are a flowchart illustrating an example of theoperation performed by an AV content receiving terminal according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 26 through 30 are a flowchart illustrating an example of theoperation performed by a content distribution server according to anembodiment of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A content providing system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

In a content providing system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1, a content distribution server 10 and aplurality of (three, in the example shown in FIG. 1) content receivingterminals 20, 30, and 40 are connected to each other throughpredetermined communication channels. In FIG. 1, the communicationchannels include a wireless network 51 and the Internet 52.

The content receiving terminal 20, which is an example of a receivingterminal dedicated for music content, can be used as a portable device,such as a portable radio receiver. The content receiving terminal 20,which is also referred to as the “music content receiving terminal” 20,forms a communication channel by accessing the content distributionserver 10 via the wireless network 51 and the Internet 52 so that it canconnect to the content distribution server 10 through this communicationchannel.

The content receiving terminal 30, which is an example of a receivingterminal dedicated for audiovisual (AV) content, such as movies, is aportable game machine having an AV playback function. The contentreceiving terminal 30, which is also referred to as the “AV contentreceiving terminal” 30, also forms a communication channel by accessingthe content distribution server 10 via the wireless network 51 and theInternet 52 so that it can connect to the content distribution server 10through this communication channel.

The content receiving terminal 40, which is a personal computer, has thefunction as a content receiving terminal by using software so that itcan obtain and play back various pieces of content. The contentreceiving terminal 40, which is also referred to as the “general-purposecontent receiving terminal” 40, forms a communication channel byaccessing the content distribution server 10 via the Internet 52 so thatit can connect to the content distribution server 10 through thiscommunication channel.

The above-described content receiving terminals 20, 30, and 40 are onlyexamples of content receiving terminals in this embodiment. Accordingly,various other content receiving terminals may be used in an embodimentof the present invention. For the convenience of simplicity, however, adescription is given below, assuming that only the content receivingterminals 20, 30, and 40 are used as content receiving terminals in thecontent providing system.

The content distribution server 10 includes a content database 11. Inthe content database 11, music content, video content, broadcast programcontent, electronic book content, photo content (photographed imagecontent), and other types of content are stored in association withattribute information concerning such content.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of content attribute information. In thiscontent attribute information, content data items are associated withcontent identification information IDs. More specifically, content dataitems are stored in the content database 11 in association with thecontent identification information IDs (not shown), and contentattribute information is stored in the content database 11 inassociation with the content identification information IDs, as shown inFIG. 2.

In this example shown in FIG. 2, as the content attribute information,the type of content, such as music, movies, television broadcastprograms, and electronic books, the category of the content, the titleof the content, the performer, such as players or cast, timeinformation, and the compression method and data format of content dataare stored.

In this embodiment, time information is stored together with attributeinformation concerning the time information (hereinafter sometimessimply referred to as “time information attribute information”). Timeinformation attribute information indicates what the corresponding timeinformation represents. Accordingly, depending on the type or variationof attribute information, a plurality of items of time information canbe associated with one piece of content. That is, in this embodiment,the time information concerning content stored in the content database11 includes a plurality of different types of time information, and thetime information attribute information is used for specifying each typeof time information.

For example, for music content, time information, such as the date whena record or a compact disc (CD) of a certain music piece was released,the date when the music piece joined the ten best in the hit chart, thedate when the music piece was introduced at live, and the date when themusic piece was broadcast on the radio or on television, can be stored,as shown in FIG. 2, in the content database 11 together with the timeinformation attribute information, such as text information representingthe time information.

For movie content, time information, such as the date when a certainmovie was released in Japan, the date when the movie was released in theUnited States, and the date when the movie was broadcast on television,can be stored, as shown in FIG. 2, in the content database 11 togetherwith the time information attribute information, such as textinformation representing the time information.

For television broadcast program content, time information, such as thedate when a certain television broadcast program was broadcast, the datewhen the television broadcast program was released as a digitalversatile disc (DVD), and the date when the television broadcast programwas rebroadcast, can be stored, as shown in FIG. 2, in the contentdatabase 11 together with the time information attribute information,such as text information representing the time information.

For news content, time information, such as the date when news wasbroadcast, the date when an incident in the news happened, and the datewhen the news story was printed in the newspaper, can be stored, asshown in FIG. 2, in the content database 11 together with timeinformation attribute information, such as text information representingthe time information. In this embodiment, news content is stored bybeing minutely divided according to events or incidents. That is, newsstories are divided according to events or incidents even if they arebroadcast in the same time zone.

For electronic book content, time information, such as the date when acertain book was released in paper form, the date when the book wasreleased in electronic form, and the date when the book was placed inthe best-seller list, can be stored, as shown in FIG. 2, in the contentdatabase 11 together with the time information attribute information,such as text information representing the time information.

Content data are stored in the content database 11 after beingcompressed according to the type of each content piece. For example,music content data is compressed according to MPEG-1 audio layer III(MP3) or Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding 3 (ATRAC3). Music contentmay be Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) data.

Video content data is compressed according to Moving Picture ExpertsGroup 2 (MPEG2), MPEG4, or JPEG.

The compression format or data format of music content or video contentis stored in the content database 11 as content attribute information,though it is not shown in FIG. 2. Then, upon receiving a contentproviding request from a content receiving terminal, the contentdistribution server 10 selects content data that can be decoded andplayed back by the content receiving terminal based on information,indicated in the content providing request, concerning the decodingfunction provided for the content receiving terminal and the data formatthat can be played back by the content receiving terminal, anddistributes the selected content data to the content receiving terminal.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the contentdistribution server 10 stores a plurality of types of content in thecontent database 11 in association with time information. Then, inresponse to a content providing request from the content receivingterminal 20, 30, or 40, the content distribution server 10 distributesrequested content to the corresponding content receiving terminal.

In this embodiment, the user of the content receiving terminal 20, 30,or 40 requests content by specifying time information, such as years ordates, as a search condition. For example, the user can request musiccontent in the 60s, movie content shown in 1980, or an incident happenedat 10:00 p.m. Nov. 11, 1999.

Accordingly, the content receiving terminal 20, 30, or 40 sends acontent providing request including at least time information as asearch keyword to the content distribution server 10.

In this case, if the user specifies only time information withoutspecifying the type of content, all content pieces that match the timeinformation as the search condition are extracted as search results andare distributed. Accordingly, when the user desires only music content,movie content, or news content, the user of the content receivingterminal includes, not only time information, but also informationindicating the type of content in a content providing request.

If only time information is contained in the content providing requestwithout time information attribute information, it is unknown what thetime information represents. Accordingly, in this embodiment, timeinformation attribute information is included in the content providingrequest to indicate what the time information represents. For example,if music content including only hit tunes in the 70s is requested, theuser inputs 1970 as time information and includes informationrepresenting hit tunes as the time information attribute information.

As the time information attribute information representing hit tunes,the same information as that stored in the content database 11 of thedistribution server 10, such as that shown in FIG. 2, for example, “tenbest in the hit charts”, can be used.

It is not essential, however, that the same information as that storedin the content database 11 is used as the time information attributeinformation. The reason for this is that the content distribution server10 can analyze the time information attribute information included in acontent providing request sent from a content receiving terminal tosearch the content database 11 for the corresponding attributeinformation.

That is, if the time information attribute information included in thecontent providing request from the content receiving terminal indicateshit tunes, the content distribution server 10 can determine that thetime information attribute information to be searched is “ten best inthe hit charts”, and then searches the content database 11 by using theattribute information together with the time information specified bythe user, and then obtains music content including hit tunes in the 70s.

In this embodiment, to facilitate the generation of search conditions inthe content distribution server 10, information attribute information tobe selected are predetermined, and the user can select time informationattribute information from the predetermined attribute information.

As discussed above, in this embodiment, the content distribution server10 stores a plurality of types of content. Accordingly, when the userrequests a specific type of content, it is necessary to specify the typeof content.

The music content receiving terminal 20 and the AV content receivingterminal 30 are dedicated terminals for requesting music content andvideo content, respectively. Accordingly, the music content receivingterminal 20 and the AV content receiving terminal 30 send contentproviding requests by including information indicating the types ofcontent in the requests to save users from inputting the types ofcontent.

However, it is necessary for the user of the general-purpose contentreceiving terminal 40 to input the type of content requested by theuser.

In this embodiment, it is not always necessary for the user to specifythe time information attribute information. If the content distributionserver 10 receives a content providing request without time informationattribute information from a content receiving terminal, it determinesthat the content receiving terminal has requested recommended content.

If the content distribution server 10 receives a content providingrequest with time information attribute information from a contentreceiving terminal, it searches for content that satisfies a searchcondition indicated by the time information attribute information, anddistributes the search results to the content receiving terminal.

In this embodiment, the user of a content receiving terminal can setcontent attribute information, such as the category of content, otherthan time information (such attribute information other than timeinformation is simply referred to as “content attribute information”).The content attribute information set by the user is included in acontent providing request and is used as one of the search conditions bythe content distribution server 10. The user does not have to specifycontent attribute information, in which case, the content distributionserver 10 searches for content without considering content attributeinformation.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a content receivingterminal sends a content providing request by including time informationand accompanying information, which is used for specifying a range ofcontent to be searched by using the time information, in the request.Then, the content distribution server 10 searches the content database11 by using the time information and accompanying information as searchconditions. It is thus possible to easily obtain content including timeinformation as metadata, such as music content which was released at adate specified by time information, broadcast program content which wasbroadcast at a date specified by time information, or movie contentwhich was shown at a date specified by time information.

Details of the configurations and operations of the content distributionserver 10 and the content receiving terminals 20, 30, and 40 aredescribed below. For the convenience of simplicity, in the followingexamples, information that can be selected by the user as contentattribute information is restricted to category information.

Hardware Configuration of Content Distribution Server 10

An example of the hardware configuration of the content distributionserver 10 is shown in FIG. 3.

In the content distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 3, a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 101 is connected through a system bus 100 to aprogram read only memory (program ROM) 102, a work area random accessmemory (work area RAM) 103, a communication interface 104, a receiveddata processor 105, a sending data processor 106, the content database11, a content search unit 107, and a distribution data generator 108.The communication interface 104 is connected to the Internet 52.

In the program ROM 102, a processing program to be executed by the CPU101 is stored. The work area RAM 103 is used as a work area forexecuting the processing program by the CPU 101. Information indicatinga communication network address, which is used as the sender address, ofthe content distribution server 10 is also stored in the program ROM102.

The received data processor 105 receives a content providing requestreceived via the communication interface 104 from a content receivingterminal, converts the request into data that can be processed by thecontent distribution server 10, and then sends the converted request tothe system bus 100.

The sending data processor 106 converts distribution data generated bythe distribution data generator 108 to data that can be sent via acommunication network, and sends the converted distribution data to theInternet 52 via the communication interface 104.

The content database 11 stores content data, at least content-relatedtime information, and content attribute information, such as that shownin FIG. 2, including time information attribute information. As statedabove, content data and the corresponding content attribute informationare associated with each other through content identificationinformation IDs.

The content search unit 107 searches the content database 11 forattribute information by using, as search conditions, time informationand the associated time information attribute information and categoryinformation included in a content providing request sent from a contentreceiving terminal, and then extracts content data based on the searchedattribute information. The content search unit 107 may be implemented bysoftware which is executed by the CPU 101.

The distribution data generator 108 generates distribution data fromsearch results obtained by the content search unit 107, and transfersthe generated distribution data to the sending data processor 106.

If the requested content is music content, the distribution datagenerator 108 sends music content data searched from the contentdatabase 11 to the music content receiving terminal 20 so that the musiccontent receiving terminal 20 can perform stream playback on the musiccontent.

If a plurality of music pieces are found as a search result, the contentdistribution server 10 sends the plurality of music pieces to the musiccontent receiving terminal 20 in a random order. This random order canbe determined based on the time when a content providing request is sentor the time when a content providing request is received. With thisarrangement, if the request sending times or request receiving times fora plurality of content providing requests are different, the pluralityof content pieces obtained as a search result in response to one contentproviding request are sent in an order different from that in which theplurality of content pieces in response to another content providingrequest are sent even if the obtained content pieces are the same amongthe received requests.

The reason for this is to prevent the user from getting board byrepeatedly receiving the same music pieces in the same order when theuser sends content providing requests at different times by specifyingtime information. Distribution histories for individual users may bestored so that the same music content can be prevented from repeatedlysending to the same user.

As described above, according to this embodiment, concerning musiccontent, the user requests the content distribution server 10 to providemusic content by specifying at least time information by using the musiccontent receiving terminal 20. Then, music content that matches thespecified time information can be sent to the music content receivingterminal 20 and is played back as if the user were listening to music ina radio receiver. Accordingly, the user can listen to, for example,popular music pieces in the 60s in a certain order. Thus, in thisembodiment, a novel providing method for music content can be provided.

When a plurality of content items are obtained from the content database11 as a search result, instead of sequentially distributing the contentitems as discussed above, a list of the content items as a search resultmay be sent to a content receiving terminal before distributing specificcontent data to the content receiving terminal. Then, the user selectsdesired content items from the list and sends back the selection resultto the content distribution server 10. Accordingly, the contentdistribution server 10 can send the content items selected by the userto the content receiving terminal.

In this embodiment, music content items obtained as a search result aresequentially distributed in a random order, as discussed above. However,concerning other types of content, for example, AV content or electronicbook content, a list of content items as a search result is sent beforedistributing final content data.

That is, if requested content is other than music content, thedistribution data generator 108 generates a list of content including atleast one content item obtained from the content database 11, and thensends the list to the content receiving terminal 30 or 40.

The content receiving terminal 30 or 40 receives the list and thenreceives the selection of one specific content item from the list by theuser, and sends a request to provide the content selected by the user tothe content distribution server 10.

In response to this request, the content distribution server 10 returnsthe requested content data to the content receiving terminal 30 or 40.

Hardware Configuration of Music Content Receiving Terminal

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the external configuration of themusic content receiving terminal 20, and more specifically, anoperational panel of a casing 21 of the music content receiving terminal20.

In this embodiment, the music content receiving terminal 20 includes atransmission/reception antenna 22 to connect to a wireless network. Onthe operational panel of the casing 21 of the music content receivingterminal 20, a turn knob operation unit 23 for setting time information,a display screen 24, which is, for example, a liquid crystal display(LCD), a plurality of operation buttons, such as an operation button forsetting time information attribute information (time attribute changingoperation button) 25 a and an operation button for setting a category(category changing operation button) 25 b, and a sound output unit 26for outputting sound from a speaker are disposed.

The display screen 24 includes a time axis indicator 241, a time axiscursor 242, a time information display column 243, a time informationattribute display column 244, and a content category display column 245.

The time axis indicator 241 is vertically calibrated as the time axis.In the example shown in FIG. 4, large markings are provided in five-yearincrements, and years are indicated for the large markings every fiveyears. The medium markings are provided in one-year increments, andsmall markings are provided in three-month increments.

The time axis cursor 242 is indicated as a horizontal bar, and theposition of the time axis cursor 242 is shifted in the time axisdirection of the time axis indicator 241 in accordance with the rotationperformed on the turn knob operation unit 23 by the user. In thisexample, the position of the time axis cursor 242 is shifted by softwarecontrol in accordance with the rotation of the turn knob operation unit23.

In this case, the time axis cursor 242 can be continuously shifted. Thiscorresponds to a bar, which indicates a currently received frequency, inaccordance with the operation of a frequency dial knob in an existingradio receiver. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the user cancontinuously change the date (second, minute, hour, day, month, andyear) by operating the turn knob operation unit 23.

The markings indicated on the time axis in the time axis indicator 241are only part of the time information that can be set by the user. Ifthe user changes the time information in the present-to-past directionwhen the time axis cursor 242 is located at the topmost position of thetime axis indicator 241, the markings indicated in the time axisindicator 241 are scrolled in the present-to-past direction. Similarly,if the user changes the time information in the past-to-presentdirection when the time axis cursor 242 is located at the bottommostposition of the time axis indicator 241, the markings indicated in thetime axis indicator 241 are scrolled in the past-to-present direction.

Alternatively, the time axis cursor 242 may be fixed, and the markingsindicated in the time axis indicator 241 may be scrolled in accordancewith the rotation operation performed on the turn knob operation unit 23by the user, thereby changing the time information.

In this embodiment, the turn knob operation unit 23 includes a flatdisk-shaped large knob 23 a and a cylindrical small knob 23 b which hasa sufficient height for the user to easily hold the small knob 23 b. Thelarge knob 23 a and the small knob 23 b are coaxially rotatable.

The turn knob operation unit 23 has a double rotation axis structure.More specifically, the user rotates the turn knob operation unit 23 bymainly holding the small knob 23 b. The small knob 23 b is movable inthe direction of the center line of the rotation axis. When the smallknob 23 b is pulled up in the direction of the center line of therotation axis toward the user, the large knob 23 a and the small knob 23b are integrally rotated around a first rotation axis. When the smallknob 23 b is pressed down, only the small knob 23 b is rotated around asecond rotation axis. That is, when the small knob 23 b is pressed down,the integral locking mechanism allowing the large knob 23 a tointegrally move with the small knob 23 b is released, and when the smallknob 23 b is pulled up, the integral locking mechanism is enabled.

The integral rotation of the large knob 23 a and the small knob 23 bcorresponds to a rough adjusting operation, and the user can adjust theposition on the time axis relatively roughly. For example, with thisoperation, the user can change only the year. The single rotation of thesmall knob 23 b corresponds to a fine adjusting operation, and the usercan adjust the position on the time axis relatively finely. For example,the user can change the time, day, and month.

The above-described structure of the turn knob operation unit 23 is onlyan example, and may be configured in another structure, for example, asa uniaxial turn knob.

The time information display column 243 on the display screen 24displays the time information (time, day, month, and year) input by theuser by using the turn knob operation unit 23 while checking theposition of the time axis cursor 242 in the time axis display column241.

In the time information attribute display column 244 on the displayscreen 24, attributes indicating what the time information set by theuser represents are indicated. In the time information attribute displaycolumn 244, every time the time attribute changing operation button 25 ais pressed, a different attribute indicating what the time informationrepresents is indicated and a desired attribute can be selected as timeinformation attribute information.

As stated above, in this embodiment, the user does not have to specifytime information attribute information. In this case, search isconducted under the search condition that time information set by theturn knob operation unit 23 includes all attribute information.

The time attribute changing operation button 25 a can be pressed androtated. In this structure, by pressing the time attribute changingoperation button 25 a, a list of time information attributes that can bedisplayed in the time information attribute display column 244, i.e., alist of attributes representing time information, is displayed as apull-down menu. Then, by rotating the time attribute changing operationbutton 25 a, one attribute is selected from the list, and by re-pressingthe time attribute changing operation button 25 a, the selectedattribute can be set.

In the category display column 245 on the display screen 24, thecategory set by the user is displayed. In the category display column245, every time the category changing operation button 25 b is pressed,a different category is displayed and a desired category can beselected.

As stated above, in this embodiment, the user does not have to specifythe category. In this case, search is conducted under the searchcondition that time information set by the turn knob operation unit 23includes all categories.

As in the operation of the time attribute changing operation button 25a, a list of categories may be displayed as a pull-down menu in thecategory display column 245, and the user can select one category fromthe list.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of themusic content receiving terminal 20.

In the music content receiving terminal 20, a CPU 201 is connected, asshown in FIG. 5, through a system bus 200, to a program ROM 202, a workarea RAM 203, a wireless transceiver 204, a received data processor 205,a sending data processor 206, a music content decoding processor 207, acontent providing request generator 208, an audio signal interface 209,an LCD interface 210, a time information interface 211, and an operationunit interface 212.

An LCD 213 including the display screen 24 is connected to the LCDinterface 210. A button operation unit 215 including the time attributechanging operation button 25 a and the category changing operationbutton 25 b is connected to the operation interface 212. The operationinterface 212 supplies operation information concerning the operationperformed on the time attribute changing operation button 25 a or thecategory changing operation button 25 b by the user to the system bus200.

The operation information supplied to the system bus 200 is analyzed bythe CPU 201 according to a program stored in the ROM 202, and isconverted into time information attribute information or categoryinformation. The time information attribute information or the categoryinformation may indicate that neither attribute nor category has beenspecified. The time information attribute information or the categoryinformation is transferred to the content providing request generator208, and is used for generating information to be included in a contentproviding request as information which accompanies time information.

An operation information signal converter 214 is connected to the timeinformation interface 211. Upon receiving an operation informationsignal in accordance with the amount by which the large knob 23 a andthe small knob 23 b are rotated, the operation information signalconverter 214 converts the operation information signal into timeinformation projected on the time axis. The time information interface211 receives the converted time information from the operationinformation signal converter 214 and supplies it to the system bus 200.The time information is then transferred to the content providingrequest generator 208 under the control of the CPU 201 and is used forgenerating information to be included in a content providing request.

The content providing request generator 208 generates a contentproviding request including, as search condition information, the timeinformation obtained from the time information interface 211 and theoperation unit interface 212 and accompanying information composed oftime information attribute information and category information, andsupplies the generated content providing request to the sending dataprocessor 206 under the control of the CPU 201.

The sending data processor 206 obtains a communication network addressof the content distribution server 10 from the ROM 202, and converts thedata to be included in the network address into a signal format thatmatches wireless communication to generate sending data, and then sendsthe generated data to the wireless transceiver 204.

The wireless transceiver 204 wirelessly transmits the sending data fromthe sending data processor 206 via the antenna 22, and also transfersdata received by the antenna 22 to the received data processor 205.

The received data processor 205 converts received data transferred fromthe wireless transceiver 204 to data that can be processed by the musiccontent receiving terminal 20, and sends the converted data to thesystem bus 200. The CPU 201 analyzes the received data, and if thereceived data is music content data, the CPU 201 transfers it to themusic content decoding processor 207.

The music content decoding processor 207 decodes the music content intoa digital audio signal, and supplies the decoded digital audio signal tothe audio signal interface 209.

The audio signal interface 209 converts the digital audio signal into ananalog audio signal, and supplies it to a speaker 217 through an audioamplifier 216 so that the audio signal can be played back.

In this embodiment, a content providing request includes information foridentifying a music content decoding function provided for the musiccontent decoding processor 207 of the music content receiving terminal20. Then, music content that can be decoded by the music contentdecoding processor 207 can be received from the content distributionserver 10.

Hardware Configuration of AV Content Receiving Terminal 30

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the external configuration of the AVcontent receiving terminal 30 in this embodiment, and more specifically,an operational panel of a casing 31 of the AV content receiving terminal30.

As stated above, the AV content receiving terminal 30 is a portableterminal having a game machine function, and has atransmission/reception antenna for connecting to a wireless network.

On the operational panel of the casing 31 of the AV content receivingterminal 30, button operation units 32 and 33, which serve as gamemachine operation controllers, are disposed, and also, an LCD displayscreen 34 is provided. In this embodiment, a menu button 35 and a sendbutton 36 are also provided on the operational panel of the casing 31.

The button operation unit 32 includes game machine operation buttons 32a, 32 b, 32 c, and 32 d. In this embodiment, the operation buttons 32 a,32 b, 32 c, and 32 d are also used as operation buttons for requestingAV content. In this example, the operation buttons 32 a, 32 b, and 32 calso serve as an enter button (setting button), time informationattribute information specifying button, and a category specifyingbutton, respectively.

The button operation unit 33 includes operation buttons 33 a, 33 b, 33c, and 33 d for specifying directions, i.e., top, bottom, left, andright, respectively. The operation buttons 33 a, 33 b, 33 c, and 33 dare used for specifying the directions regardless of whether the AVcontent receiving terminal 30 is used as a game machine or used forrequesting AV content. In particular, the operation buttons 33 c and 33d for specifying the horizontal directions, i.e., left and right, serveas operation buttons for inputting time information.

In this embodiment, on the display screen 34 of the AV content receivingterminal 30, a time axis indicator 341, a time axis cursor 342, a timeinformation display column 343, a time information attribute displaycolumn 344, and an AV content category display column 345 are disposed.

The time axis indicator 341 is horizontally calibrated as the time axis.In the example shown in FIG. 6, large markings are provided in five-yearincrements, and years are indicated for the large markings every fiveyears. The middle markings are provided in one-year increments, andsmall markings are provided in three-month increments.

In FIG. 6, the time axis cursor 342 is indicated as a vertical bar, andthe position of the time axis cursor 342 is horizontally shifted in thetime axis direction in the time axis indicator 341 in accordance withthe user operation performed on the horizontal direction specifyingbutton 33 c or 33 d. In this example, the position of the time axiscursor 342 is shifted horizontally by software control in accordancewith the operation performed on the horizontal direction specifyingbutton 33 c or 33 d.

In this case, the time axis cursor 342 can be continuously shifted. Thiscorresponds to a bar, which indicates a currently received frequency, inaccordance with the operation of a frequency dial knob in an existingradio receiver. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the user cancontinuously change the date (second, minute, hour, day, month, andyear) by operating the horizontal direction specifying buttons 33 c and33 d.

The markings indicated on the time axis in the time axis indicator 341are only part of the time information that can be set by the user. Ifthe user changes the time information in the present-to-past directionwhen the time axis cursor 342 is located at the leftmost position of thetime axis indicator 341, the markings indicated in the time axisindicator 341 are scrolled in the present-to-past direction. Similarly,if the user changes the time information in the past-to-presentdirection when the time axis cursor 342 is located at the rightmostposition of the time axis indicator 341, the markings indicated in thetime axis indicator 341 are scrolled in the past-to-present direction.

Alternatively, the time axis cursor 342 may be fixed, and the markingsindicated in the time axis indicator 341 may be scrolled in accordancewith the user operation on the horizontal direction specifying operationbuttons 33 c and 33 d, thereby changing the time information.

The time information display column 343 on the display screen 34displays the time information (time, day, month, and year) input by theuser by using the horizontal direction specifying operation buttons 33 cand 33 d while checking the position of the time axis cursor 342 in thetime axis display column 341.

In the time information attribute display column 344 on the displayscreen 34, attributes indicating what the time information set by theuser represents are indicated. In the time information attribute displaycolumn 344, every time the operation button 32 b is pressed, a differentattribute indicating what the time information represents is indicatedand a desired attribute can be selected as time information attributeinformation.

As stated above, in this embodiment, the user does not have to specifytime information attribute information. In this case, search isconducted under the search condition that time information set by thehorizontal direction specifying operation button 33 c or 33 d includesall attribute information.

By pressing the operation button 32 b, a list of attributes that can beindicated in the time information attribute display column 344, i.e., alist of attributes that can be selected, may be displayed as a pull-downmenu. Then, by operating the vertical direction specifying operationbutton 33 a or 33 b, one attribute may be selected from the list, and bypressing the operation button (enter key) 32 a, the selected attributemay be set.

In the category display column 345 on the display screen 34, thecategory set by the user is displayed. In the category display column345, every time the operation button 32 c is pressed, a differentcategory is displayed and a desired category can be selected.

As stated above, in this embodiment, the user does not have to specifythe category. In this case, search is conducted under the searchcondition that time information set by the horizontal directionspecifying operation unit 33 c or 33 d includes all categories.

As in the operation of the operation button 32 b, a list of categoriesmay be displayed in the category display column 345 as a pull-down menu,and the user can select one category from the list.

The menu button 35 is used for displaying a list of function modesincluding a game machine mode, an AV content providing request mode, andother function modes provided for the AV content receiving terminal 30on the display screen 34. After displaying the list of function modes bypressing the menu button 35, the user operates the direction specifyingbuttons 33 a through 33 d to select the function mode to be executed inthe AV content receiving terminal 30, and then, presses the operationbutton 33 a, which serves as the enter button, to set the selectedfunction mode.

The send button 36 is operated by the user when sending a contentproviding request to the content distribution server 10 in the contentproviding request mode.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of theAV content receiving terminal 30.

In the AV content receiving terminal 30, a CPU 301 is connected, asshown in FIG. 7, through a system bus 300, to a program ROM 302, a workarea RAM 303, a wireless transceiver 304, a received data processor 305,a sending data processor 306, an AV content decoding processor 307, acontent providing request generator 308, an audio signal interface 309,an LCD interface 310, an operation unit interface 311, a game functionunit 312, and a game medium drive 313.

An LCD 314 including the display screen 34 is connected to the LCDinterface 310. A button operation unit 315 including the operationbuttons 32 a through 32 d, the direction specifying buttons 33 a through33 d, the menu button 35, and the send button 36 is connected to theoperation interface 311. The operation interface 311 detects, under thecontrol of the CPU 301, operation information concerning which buttonhas been operated by the user among the operation buttons 32 a through32 d, the direction specifying buttons 33 a through 33 d, the menubutton 315, and the send button 316, and supplies the detected operationinformation to the system bus 300.

The CPU 301 analyzes the operation information concerning the operationperformed on the button operation unit 315 in accordance with a programstored in the program ROM 302, and then executes processing inaccordance with the corresponding function mode.

For example, in the content providing request mode, in response to theoperation on the horizontal direction specifying button 33 c or 33 d,the CPU 301 determines that time information has been set, and thenchanges the position of the time axis cursor 342 on the time axis in thetime axis indicator 341 in accordance with the operation on thehorizontal direction specifying button 33 c or 33 d, and also displaysthe time information associated with the time on the time axis in thetime information display column 343. The CPU 301 then transfers the timeinformation to the content providing request generator 308, and thecontent providing request generator 308 uses the time information forgenerating information included in a content providing request.

The CPU 301 also changes the display in the time information attributedisplay column 344 or the category display column 345 in response to theoperation on the operation button 32 b or 32 c, respectively, andtransfers the attribute information or category information (includinginformation indicating that no attribute or category has been specified)to the content providing request generator 308 and the content providingrequest generator 308 uses the attribute information or categoryinformation for generating accompanying information included in acontent providing request.

Under the control of the CPU 301, the content providing requestgenerator 308 generates a content providing request including the timeinformation and accompanying information, which is composed of the timeinformation attribute information and category information, as searchcondition information, and supplies the generated content providingrequest to the sending data processor 306.

The sending data processor 306 obtains a communication network addressof the content distribution server 10 from the program ROM 302, andconverts the data to be included in the network address into a signalformat that matches wireless communication to generate sending data, andthen sends the generated data to the wireless transceiver 304.

The wireless transceiver 304 wirelessly transmits the sending data fromthe sending data processor 306 via an antenna 37, and also transfersdata received by the antenna 37 to the received data processor 305.

The received data processor 305 converts received data transferred fromthe wireless transceiver 304 to data that can be processed by the AVcontent receiving terminal 30, and sends the converted data to thesystem bus 300. The CPU 301 analyzes the received data and transfers AVcontent data to the AV content decoding processor 307.

The AV content decoding processor 307 decodes the AV content data andtransfers the decoded digital video data to the LCD 314 via the LCDinterface 310 so that the corresponding images can be played back. TheCPU 301 also transfers the decoded digital audio signal to the audiosignal interface 309.

The audio signal interface 309 converts the digital audio signal into ananalog audio signal, and supplies it to a speaker 317 through an audioamplifier 316 so that the audio signal can be played back.

In this embodiment, a content providing request includes information foridentifying the AV content decoding function provided for the AV contentdecoding processor 307 of the AV content receiving terminal 30. Then, AVcontent that can be decoded by the AV content decoding processor 307 canbe received from the content distribution server 10.

The game function unit 312 displays a game screen on the display screen34 of the LCD 314 by using a game program or game data recorded on agame medium, for example, a CD-ROM or a DVD, installed in the gamemedium drive 313. The game function unit 312 changes the display of thegame screen in response to the operation on the operation buttons 32 or33 of the button operation unit 315.

Hardware Configuration of General-Purpose Content Receiving Terminal 40

As stated above, since the general-purpose content receiving terminal 40is a personal computer, the specific hardware configuration thereof isnot shown. This personal computer can access the content distributionserver 10 via the Internet 52.

The general-purpose content receiving terminal 40 of this embodimentincludes the functions of the music content receiving terminal 20 andthe AV content receiving terminal 30 as software programs stored in abuilt-in ROM, and also includes functions of requesting electronic booksor other types of content as software programs.

As the display screen of the general-purpose content receiving terminal40, a display screen similar to the operation screen for requestingcontent in the AV content receiving terminal 30 shown in FIG. 6 is used.Then, time information can be set by using direction specifying keysprovided for the keyboard of the personal computer, and the attribute ofthe time information or the category can also be set by performing apredetermined key operation.

Requesting other types of content, such as electronic books, by thecontent receiving terminal, performing processing by the contentdistribution server 10 in response to a content providing request, andreceiving content by a content receiving terminal are similar to thosewhen requesting and receiving AV content. However, the contentrequesting mode or the content distribution mode may be different inaccordance with the characteristic of content.

In the case of the general-purpose content receiving terminal 40, it isnecessary for the user to select the type of content to be requested.However, the user may request all types of content without specifyingthe type of content.

Accordingly, an operation unit for allowing the user to select the typeof content and a unit (function unit) for displaying the selected typeof content on the display screen are provided.

Overview of Content Requesting Operation

Concerning the operation for requesting content, several modes can beconsidered in accordance with the user operation for requesting contentor the difference in search conditions included in a content providingrequest.

In a first mode, only time information is set when requesting content bythe user. However, a content providing request includes, not only timeinformation set by the user, but also accompanying information as searchcondition information for specifying a range of content to be searchedby using the time information. In the first mode, the accompanyinginformation is automatically included in a content providing request bya content receiving terminal.

The accompanying information used for specifying a range of content andautomatically contained in a content providing request by the contentreceiving terminal itself includes predetermined time informationattribute information and/or predetermined content attributeinformation, such as the category. In this case, the accompanyinginformation may be included in a content providing request in threedifferent manners, such as including only predetermined time informationattribute information, including only predetermined content attributeinformation, such as the category, and including both the predeterminedtime information attribute information and the content attributeinformation, such as the category.

In the above-described first mode, a content providing request isprovided by a content receiving terminal dedicated for specific content,such as the music content receiving terminal 20 or the AV contentreceiving terminal 30, in which case, an input unit for setting timeinformation attribute information or an input unit for setting thecategory, which allows the user to input specific information, is notprovided for the content receiving terminal.

If the content database 11 of the content distribution server 10 storesa plurality of types of content, it is necessary for the contentreceiving terminal to include information for specifying a desired typeof content in a content providing request as accompanying information.

On the other hand, if the content distribution server 10 is adistribution server dedicated for a specific type of content thatmatches the type of content dedicated for the content receivingterminal, it is not necessary for the content receiving terminal toinclude information for specifying a desired type of content in acontent providing request as accompanying information.

FIG. 8 illustrates the concept of a request to provide content from thecontent receiving terminal 20 or 30 to the content distribution server10 in the above-described first mode.

An input device 61 shown in FIG. 8 forms an input unit for setting timeinformation, such as the turn knob operation unit 23 of the musiccontent receiving terminal 20 or the button operation unit 33 of the AVcontent receiving terminal 30.

In response to time information set by the user by operating the inputdevice 61, the CPU 201 or 301 converts operation information concerningthe operation performed on the input device 61 into informationindicating a point on the linear axis by using an information converter62 having a software processing function. In this embodiment, the linearaxis corresponds to the time axis, and information concerning a certainpoint on the linear axis is mapped onto a specific time on the time axisso that the operation input information concerning the operationperformed on the input device 61 can be converted into time information.The time information is included in a content providing request, and thecontent providing request with the time information is then sent to thecontent distribution server 10.

In response to the operation performed on the input device 61, the CPU201 or 301 automatically generates accompanying information forspecifying a range of content to be searched by using the timeinformation by using an automatic accompanying information generator 63having a software processing function, and includes the generatedaccompanying information in a content providing request, and then sendsthe request to the content distribution server 10.

The content distribution server 10 generates search conditions based onthe time information and accompanying information contained in thereceived content providing request, and searches the content database 11according to the generated search conditions to extract one or aplurality of content items requested by the content receiving terminalfrom the content database 11.

The content distribution server 10 sends the extracted content data tothe content receiving terminal by using a content distributor 65 havinga software processing. The content receiving terminal then decodes thereceived content data and presents the decoded data to the user throughan output device 64, such as a display or a speaker.

A first example of the accompanying information included in a contentproviding request by the content receiving terminal itself using theautomatic accompanying information generator 63 is time informationattribute information only, and in this case, such attribute informationindicates that no time attributes are specified.

In the first example, the content distribution server 10 may determinethat all time attributes are included as search conditions or that oneor a plurality of specific, recommended time attributes are specified.

In this case, content attribute information, for example, the category,is not specified. The content distribution server 10 may determine thatall categories are included as search conditions or that one or aplurality of specific, recommended categories is specified.

A second example of the accompanying information included in a contentproviding request by the content receiving terminal itself using theautomatic accompanying information generator 63 is time informationattribute information only, and in this case, the attribute informationis predetermined, specified information, such as the date at which, forexample, a certain music piece, has joined ten bests in the hit chart.

In the second example, if the content is music content, the contentdistribution server 10 searches the content database 11 for music piecesthat have joined ten bests in the hit chart at the date specified by thetime information, and distributes the matched content pieces to thecontent receiving terminal.

A third example of the accompanying information included in a contentproviding request by the content receiving terminal itself using theautomatic accompanying information generator 63 is content attributeinformation only, and in this case, such content attribute informationindicates that no content attributes are specified.

In the third example, the content distribution server 10 may determinethat all content attributes are included as search conditions or thatone or a plurality of specific, recommended content attributes isspecified.

In this case, time information attribute information is not specified.The content distribution server 10 may determine that all timeattributes are included as search conditions or that one or a pluralityof specific, recommended time attributes is specified.

A fourth example of the accompanying information included in a contentproviding request by the content receiving terminal itself using theautomatic accompanying information generator 63 is both the timeinformation attribute information and content attribute information, andin this case, such information indicates that neither of time attributesnor content attributes are specified.

In this case, the content distribution server 10 may conduct search in amanner similar to that described above in the first or third example.

A fifth example of the accompanying information included in a contentproviding request by the content receiving terminal itself using theautomatic accompanying information generator 63 is both the timeinformation attribute information and content attribute information, andin this case, one of the attribute information indicates that noattributes are specified, and the other attribute information ispredetermined, specified attribute information.

For the unspecified attribute information, the content distributionserver 10 may conduct search in a manner similar to that described abovein the first, third, or fourth example.

A sixth example of the accompanying information included in a contentproviding request by the content receiving terminal itself using theautomatic accompanying information generator 63 is both the timeinformation attribute information and content attribute information, andin this case, both the time information attribute information and thecontent attribute information are predetermined, specified information.

In the sixth example, content distribution under very restricted searchconditions is assumed, such as requesting one or a plurality of contentitems specified by the predetermined, specified time information.

In a second mode, not only time information, but also time informationattribute information is input or selectively input when requestingcontent by the user. In the above-described content receiving terminals,time information attribute information can be input only by selectingfrom predetermined attributes by the user. However, the user can inputspecific text as the time information attribute information. The sameapplies to the input of content attribute information, such as thecategory. This can be easily performed particularly in thegeneral-purpose content receiving terminal 40.

The time information attribute information set by the user is includedin a content providing request as accompanying information forspecifying a range of content to be searched by using time information.

In the second mode, as well as the first mode, the type of content isnot input. Accordingly, in the second mode, content is requested by acontent receiving terminal dedicated for specific content, such as themusic content receiving terminal 20 or the AV content receiving terminal30. In this case, an input unit (content attribute input unit) forinputting the category by the user is not provided for the contentreceiving terminal.

In the second mode, if it is not necessary to include content attributeinformation or information indicating the type of content in a contentproviding request as accompanying information, the automaticaccompanying information generator 63 provided in the first mode is notnecessary.

However, if the content database 11 of the content distribution server10 stores a plurality of types of content, as stated above, it isnecessary for the content receiving terminal to include information forspecifying the type of content in a content providing request asaccompanying information. Thus, information for specifying the type ofcontent is generated in the automatic accompanying information generator63 and is included in a content providing request as the accompanyinginformation.

As in the first mode, it is not always necessary that the contentattribute, such as the category, be included as accompanyinginformation. In this case, the content distribution server 10 maydetermine that no content attributes are specified, and conducts searchby assuming that all categories are included or only a specific,recommended category is specified.

Predetermined content attribute information (may indicate that nocontent attributes are specified), such as the category, may begenerated in the automatic accompanying information generator 63, and isincluded in a content providing request as accompanying information.

FIG. 9 illustrates the concept of a request to provide content from thecontent receiving terminal 20 or 30 to the content distribution server10 in the above-described second mode. In FIG. 9, elements correspondingto those in FIG. 8 are designated with like reference numerals.

In FIG. 9, the content receiving terminal includes a time informationattribute input device 66, which is formed of the time attributechanging operation button 25 a of the music content receiving terminal20 shown in FIG. 4 or the operation button 32 b of the AV contentreceiving terminal 30 shown in FIG. 6.

Then, in the content receiving terminal, in response to the inputoperation by the user through the time information attribute inputdevice 66, a time information attribute converter 67, which serves as asoftware function processor, converts attribute information inaccordance with the input operation. This corresponds to the operationfor setting the time information attribute information in response tothe operation performed on the time attribute changing operation button25 a or the operation button 32 b.

Then, the time information attribute information output from the timeinformation attribute converter 67 is included, together with anothertype of accompanying information output from the automatic accompanyinginformation generator 63, if it is provided at all, in a contentproviding request as accompanying information, and the content providingrequest is then sent to the content distribution server 10.

As discussed above, the second mode is similar to the first mode, exceptthat time information attribute information is set by the user. Also, inthe second mode, the automatic accompanying information generator 63 maynot be provided.

In a third mode, not only time information, but also content attributeinformation is input or selectively input when requesting content by theuser. The content attribute information input by the user is included ina content providing request as accompanying information for specifying arange of content to be searched by using time information.

As in the first or second mode, in the third mode, the type of contentis not input. Accordingly, in the third mode, content is requested by acontent receiving terminal dedicated for specific content, such as themusic content receiving terminal 20 or the AV content receiving terminal30. In the third mode, an input unit (content attribute input unit) forinputting time information attribute information by the user is notprovided for the content receiving terminal.

In the third mode, if it is not necessary to include time informationattribute information or information indicating the type of content in acontent providing request as accompanying information, the automaticaccompanying information generator 63 provided in the first mode is notnecessary.

However, if the content database 11 of the content distribution server10 stores a plurality of types of content, as stated above, it isnecessary for the content receiving terminal to include information forspecifying the type of content in a content providing request asaccompanying information. Thus, information for specifying the type ofcontent is generated in the automatic accompanying information generator63 and is included in a content providing request as the accompanyinginformation.

As in the first mode, it is not always necessary that the timeinformation attribute information be included as accompanyinginformation. In this case, the content distribution server 10 maydetermine that no time attributes are specified, and conducts search byassuming that all time attributes are included or only a specific,recommended time attribute is specified.

Predetermined time information attribute information (may indicate thatno time attributes are specified) may be generated in the automaticaccompanying information generator 63, and is included in a contentproviding request as accompanying information.

FIG. 10 illustrates the concept of a request to provide content from thecontent receiving terminal 20 or 30 to the content distribution server10 in the above-described third mode. In FIG. 10, elements correspondingto those in FIG. 8 are designated with like reference numerals.

The content receiving terminal includes a content attribute input device68, which is formed of the category changing operation button 25 b ofthe music content receiving terminal 20 shown in FIG. 4 or the operationbutton 32 c of the AV content receiving terminal shown in FIG. 6.

Then, in the content receiving terminal, in response to the inputoperation by the user through the content attribute input device 68, acontent attribute converter 69, which serves as a software functionprocessor, converts content attribute information in accordance with theinput operation. This corresponds to the operation for setting thecontent attribute information in response to the operation performed onthe category changing operation button 25 b or the operation button 32c.

Then, the content attribute information output from the contentattribute converter 69 is included, together with another type ofaccompanying information output from the automatic accompanyinginformation generator 63, if it is provided at all, in a contentproviding request as accompanying information, and the content providingrequest is then sent to the content distribution server 10.

As discussed above, the third mode is similar to the first mode, exceptthat content attribute information is set by the user. Also, in thethird mode, the automatic accompanying information generator 63 may notbe provided.

In a fourth mode, not only time information, but also time informationattribute information and content attribute information are input orselectively input when requesting content by the user. The timeinformation attribute information and content attribute informationinput by the user are included in a content providing request asaccompanying information for specifying a range of content to besearched by using time information.

As in the first, second, or third mode, in the fourth mode, the type ofcontent is not input. Accordingly, in the fourth mode, a request toprovide content is made from a content receiving terminal dedicated forspecific content, such as the music content receiving terminal 20 or theAV content receiving terminal 30. In the fourth mode, an input unit forinputting time information by the user and an input unit (contentattribute input unit) for inputting the category by the user areprovided for the content receiving terminal.

In the fourth mode, if it is not necessary to include informationindicating the type of content in a content providing request asaccompanying information because the content distribution server 10 is aserver dedicated for content that matches the content dedicated for thecontent receiving terminal, the automatic accompanying informationgenerator 63 provided in the first mode is not necessary.

However, if the content database 11 of the content distribution server10 stores a plurality of types of content, as stated above, it isnecessary for the content receiving terminal to include information forspecifying the type of content in a content providing request asaccompanying information. Thus, information for specifying the type ofcontent is generated in the automatic accompanying information generator63 and is included in a content providing request as the accompanyinginformation.

FIG. 11 illustrates the concept of a request to provide content from thecontent receiving terminal 20 or 30 to the content distribution server10 in the above-described fourth mode. In FIG. 11, elementscorresponding to those in FIGS. 8 through 10 are designated with likereference numerals.

In FIG. 11, the content receiving terminal includes the time informationattribute input device 66, the time information attribute converter 67,the content attribute information input device 68, and the contentattribute converter 69. This configuration is similar to that of themusic content receiving terminal 20 shown in FIG. 4 or the AV contentreceiving terminal 30 shown in FIG. 6.

The operations of the individual elements have been discussed above, anda detailed explanation is thus omitted here. In the fourth mode, acontent providing request includes time information attributeinformation and content attribute information (such information mayindicate that no time attributes or no content attributes are specified)as accompanying information for specifying a range of content to besearched by using time information. Then, the content distributionserver 10 searches the content database 11 under search conditionsdetermined based on the time information and accompanying information,and then sends content data to the content receiving terminal as asearch result.

In a fifth mode, content is requested from the general-purpose contentreceiving terminal 40. That is, in the fifth mode, a content providingrequest is sent from the content receiving terminal 40, assuming that aplurality of types of content are stored in the content database 11 ofthe content distribution server 10. Accordingly, it is necessary for theuser to input or selectively input, not only time information, but alsothe type of content when requesting content.

Accordingly, in the fifth mode, various modifications can be considered,in which an input unit for inputting the type of content is provided forthe content receiving terminal in each of the first mode through thefourth mode discussed with reference to FIGS. 8 through 11 andinformation concerning the type of content input by the input unit isincluded in a content providing request as accompanying information.

The operations in the various modifications of the fifth mode aresimilar to those of the first through fourth modes, except that the typeof content is input (including a case where the type of content is notspecified) and is included in accompanying information. Thus, a detailedexplanation of such operations is omitted here.

The address of a content receiving terminal is contained in a contentproviding request as the sender address, though it is not shown in FIGS.8 through 11. The content distribution server 10 distributes contentdata to the received address as the content destination address. Thecontent providing request may include information concerning thedecoding function provided for the content receiving terminal.

Content Distribution Modes

As discussed above, the content distribution server 10 distributescontent in a different manner depending on the type of content, i.e.,music content or AV content, such as movie content. Several distributionmodes employed in the content distribution server 10 are describedbelow.

FIG. 12 illustrates the concept of a first distribution mode in whichthe content distribution server 10 distributes content to the musiccontent receiver 20.

As discussed above, the user can sequentially change the timeinformation along the time axis by using, for example, the turn knoboperation unit 23. In this case, if information concerning all timepositions on the time axis traced by the operation is sent to thecontent distribution server 10 as content providing requests as if theuser were changing the reception frequency by using the frequency dialof a radio receiver, content items that are not desired by the user aresent to the user.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the content receiving terminal sends acontent providing request to the content distribution server 10 onlywhen it determines that the user is likely to request content.

In this embodiment, when the user suspends the operation for changingthe time information for a predetermined period of time by using a timeinformation input unit, such as the turn knob operation unit 23, it isdetermined the user intends to specify one point on the linear axis, andthen, a content providing request including such time information to thecontent distribution server 10.

It is possible that a content providing request unit (such as a sendbutton) be disposed in addition to the time information input unit. Inthis case, however, the operation becomes complicated. Accordingly, inthis embodiment, only the time information input unit is provided.

As stated above, for example, by the integral operation of the largeknob 23 a and the small knob 23 b of the turn knob operation unit 23,the time information can be roughly specified by, for example, theyears. An example of the first distribution mode in this case is shownin FIG. 12.

It is now assumed, for example, that the time information is changed forspecifying the year 1978 and that a content providing request includingthat time information is sent to the content distribution server 10.Then, the content distribution server 10 recognizes that the timeinformation specifies the year 1978, and searches the content database11 according to search conditions determined based on the timeinformation and accompanying information contained in the contentproviding request, and then sequentially sends music pieces A1, A2, A3,A4, and so on, to the music content receiving terminal 20 as a searchresult.

Then, as stated above, in the first distribution mode, the music contentreceiving terminal 20 performs stream playback on the music pieces sentfrom the content distribution server 10. The content distribution server10 sends the entire content data of music piece A1 to the music contentreceiving terminal 20, and then, starts sending content data of thesubsequent music piece A2. Accordingly, in the music content receivingterminal 20, after stream playback of one music piece is finished,stream playback of the next music piece is started from the head. Thisis as if music pieces in the specified year were distributed and playedback by radio broadcasting.

Music pieces A1, A2, A3, A4, and so on, shown in FIG. 12, sequentiallyplayed back as a search result are only examples of music piecessequentially played back, and are not fixed music pieces. Instead, musicpieces A1, A2, A3, A4, and so on, are randomly changed every time thecontent distribution server 10 receives a content providing request. Thesame applies to music pieces B1, B2, B3, B4, and so on, C1, C2, C3, C4,and so on, and D1, D2, D3, D4, and so on, in the specified other yearsas search results.

If the user operates the turn knob operation unit 23 to specify anotheryear, for example, 1979, while listening to the music piece A1 in 1978received from the content distribution server 10, a new contentproviding request including the time information specified by 1979 issent to the content distribution server 10. Then, the contentdistribution server 10 suspends the distribution of the music piece A1and starts distributing music piece B1 as a search result.

Accordingly, in response to the operation on the turn knob operationunit 23, the music content receiving terminal 20 can change streamplayback from music piece A1 to music piece B1. Accordingly, the usercan change years by suspending the rotation operation at the positionscorresponding to the desired years through the turn knob operation unit23 for a predetermined period of time. With this operation, the user canchange the years while listening to the heads of the music pieces.

Although changing the time information has been discussed in the contextof changing the year, the time, day, month may be specified as timeinformation by operating only the small knob 23 b of the turn knoboperation unit 23. That is, time information can be specified in greaterdetails, and content that matches the search conditions can be obtained.In this case, as stated above, if a plurality of items of content areobtained, stream playback is performed on the content items.

Although the distribution of music content has been discussed by way ofexample, other types of content, such as AV content and electronic bookcontent, may be distributed in the first distribution mode.

In the first distribution mode, while listening to one piece of content,it is difficult for the user to listen to another piece of contentspecified by the same time information, such as the same year, untilplayback of the first piece of content has finished. In a seconddistribution mode, this drawback has been overcome.

In the second distribution mode, the content receiving terminal isprovided with an operation unit for requesting next music content to bedistributed after a currently receiving music content. For example, anext button 25 c shown in FIG. 13 is provided for the music contentreceiving terminal 20.

In the second distribution mode, the user inputs time information tosend a content providing request to the content distribution server 10,and the content distribution server 10 returns content data to thecontent receiving terminal as a search result, as in the firstdistribution mode.

Unlike the first distribution mode, however, in the second distributionmode, the content distribution server 10 can receive a next contentproviding request from the content receiving terminal even if thedistribution of a predetermined content piece to the content receivingterminal has not finished.

In the music content receiving terminal 20 shown in FIG. 13, when theuser of the music content receiving terminal 20 operates the next button25 c while receiving predetermined music content from the contentdistribution server 10, the music content receiving terminal 20 can senda request to provide next content to the content distribution server 10.

In response to this request, the content distribution server 10 suspendsthe distribution of the current content and starts distributing the nextcontent. For example, in FIG. 12, in response to a request to send nextcontent from the content receiving terminal while receiving music pieceA1, the content distribution server 10 suspends the distribution ofmusic piece A1 and starts distributing the next music piece A2.

In the second distribution mode, the user can request the distribution(playback) of next content by stopping the distribution (playback) ofcontent that the user does not wish to listen to by operating the nextbutton 25 c. As a result, the user can select and listen to only his/herfavorite content.

In the second distribution mode, content to be distributed is notrestricted to music content. For example, in the case of AV content, ifthe user starts watching part of AV content and does not wish to watchthe content any more, he/she can request the distribution of next AVcontent by operating the next button 25 c.

In the above-described example, the content distribution server 10 sendsnext content when receiving a request based on the operation performedon the next button 25 c. Alternatively, the content distribution server10 may randomly select a content piece from a plurality of contentpieces and distributes the selected content.

Unlike the first and second distribution modes, in a third distributionmode, in response to a content providing request, content is distributedby provisional distribution and final distribution. Then, in theprovisional distribution, instead of sending all content pieces, whichis performed in the first distribution mode, the content distributionserver 10 sends only part of prepared content pieces, together withidentification information for identifying each content piece, to theuser.

In the third distribution mode, for example, music pieces A1, A2, A3,A4, and so on, shown in FIG. 12 are part of prepared content items,which are preferably characteristic portions of music pieces, forexample, introductions or highlight portions. Accordingly, playback ofeach music piece A1, A2, A3, A4, and so on, is finished for relatively ashort period of time, and then, playback of a next music piece isstarted.

Then, the content receiving terminal receives a final distributionrequest from the user while the provisional distribution is beingconducted, and sends the final distribution request to the contentdistribution server 10. That is, the user watches or listens to part ofcontent pieces provided in the provisional distribution and selectscontent to be provided by final distribution, and then requests thedistribution of the selected content.

Accordingly, in the third distribution mode, an operation input unit,such as a final distribution button (including a software button), isprovided for the content receiving terminal. When the user operates thefinal distribution button while the provisional distribution is beingconducted, content to be provided by final distribution is selected, andthe distribution of the selected content by final distribution isrequested.

In the third distribution mode, if the content receiving terminaldetermines that the final distribution button has been operated whilethe provisional distribution is being conducted, it generates finaldistribution request information including identification informationconcerning the content which is being received by provisionaldistribution when the final distribution button is operated, and thensends the final distribution request information to the contentdistribution server 10.

Upon receiving final distribution request information from the contentreceiving terminal while conducting provisional distribution, thecontent distribution server 10 suspends the provisional distribution anddistributes the content data specified by the identification informationcontained in the final distribution request information to the contentreceiving terminal.

As in the second distribution mode, in the third distribution mode, anext button may be provided. In this case, when the content receivingterminal sends a next distribution request to the content distributionserver 10 through the operation on the next button by the user, thecontent distribution server 10 starts distributing part of the nextcontent to be distributed by provisional distribution even if theprovisional distribution of current content is not finished.

In the third distribution mode, if the content receiving terminalincludes a display screen, images of content items may be sent asauxiliary information together with part of the content distributed byprovisional distribution, thereby assisting the user to request contentby final distribution. In the case of music content, for example, imagesof record jackets or CD jackets, such as those shown in FIG. 14, may besent from the content distribution server 10 to the content receivingterminal, and then, the content receiving terminal can sequentiallyscroll the jacket images in accordance with the playback order inprovisional distribution.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the jacket images are displayed, forexample, in the time axis indicator 241 on the display screen 24 of themusic content receiving terminal 20. When sending a final distributionrequest, the jacket images disappear, and then, the display of the timeaxis indicator 241 is resumed.

The type of content to be distributed in the third distribution mode isnot restricted to music content, and may be other types of content, suchas AV content and electronic book content. In the case of AV content,several characteristic scenes can be extracted and played back in theprovisional distribution. In the case of electronic book content, thefirst page or the first and second pages of a book can be distributed inthe provisional distribution.

As the auxiliary information for assisting the user to select content infinal distribution, such as record jackets or CD jacket for musiccontent, cassette tape jackets, DVD jackets, or characteristic scenethumbnails may be used for AV content, or the cover of a book in paperform corresponding to an electronic book may be used for electronic bookcontent.

In the third distribution mode, when presenting part of content to theuser in provisional distribution, fast speed playback, such as at ×1.2,×1.5, or ×2.0, may be performed instead of normal speed playback.

In a fourth distribution mode, content is also distributed byprovisional distribution and final distribution. In the fourthdistribution mode, content other than music content, such as AV content,is received from the content distribution server 10. Details of such adistribution mode are described below.

In provisional distribution of the fourth distribution mode, in responseto a content providing request from the content receiving terminal 30 or40, the content distribution server 10 searches the content database 11to generate a list of content including at least one content itemobtained from the content database 11 as a search result, and sends thelist to the content receiving terminal 30 or 40.

The content receiving terminal 30 or 40 receives the data by provisionaldistribution from the content distribution server 10, and displays thecontent list on the display screen, and then instructs the user to inputa final distribution request. Examples of lists displayed on the displayscreen 34 of the content receiving terminal 30 when receiving content byprovisional distribution are shown in FIGS. 15 through 19.

FIGS. 15 through 17 illustrate an example of a list displayed on thedisplay screen 34 of the content receiving terminal 30 when receivingcontent by provisional distribution in response to a content providingrequest sent from the content receiving terminal 30 to the contentdistribution server 10 by specifying the year 1961 as time informationand the movie as the category.

On the display screen 34, instead of the time axis indicator 341 forrequesting content, such as that shown in FIG. 6, a provisionaldistribution reception screen is displayed, as shown in FIGS. 15 through17. In this reception screen, the specified time information isindicated in a time information indicator 346, the specified category isindicated in a category indicator 347, and a content list is indicatedin a list indicator 348.

In this example, the movie content list includes a plurality of textfields, such as titles and performers of movies, which are verticallyarranged in the list. Content that cannot be shown in the leastindicator 348 due to the limited size of the screen 34 can be displayedas a next page or appears by being scrolled.

In the content list in the list indicator 348, movie content which isbeing selected can be identified by a highlighted or surrounded cursorCS. Then, thumbnail images including characteristic scenes of the moviewhich is being selected by the cursor CS are indicated in a thumbnailindicator 349, which is part of the display screen 34.

By operating the vertical direction specifying buttons 33 a and 33 b ofthe direction specifying buttons 33 in the reception screen, the usercan change the movie to be selected. For example, if the user selectsthe movie content one below the currently selected movie content byoperating the operation button 33 b in the reception screen in FIG. 15,the reception screen is shifted to that shown in FIG. 16. In response toa change of the movie content, thumbnail images displayed in thethumbnail indicator 349 are changed to those including characteristicscenes of the currently selected movie content.

If the user selects another movie content one below the current moviecontent by operating the operation button 33 b in the reception screenin FIG. 16, the reception screen is shifted to that shown in FIG. 17. Inresponse to a change of the movie content, thumbnail images displayed inthe thumbnail indicator 349 are changed to those includingcharacteristic scenes of the currently selected movie content.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate an example of a list displayed on the displayscreen 34 of the content receiving terminal 30 when receiving content byprovisional distribution in response to a content providing request sentfrom the content receiving terminal 30 to the content distributionserver 10 by specifying the year 1961 as time information and news asthe category.

A news content list includes, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a pluralityof text fields, such as the dates when incidents or events in newshappened and news excerpts, which are vertically arranged in the list.Content that cannot be shown in the list indicator 348 due to thelimited size of the screen 34 can be displayed as a next page or appearsby being scrolled.

As in the movie content list, in the news content list in the listindicator 348, news which is being selected can be identified by ahighlighted or surrounded cursor CS. Then, thumbnail images includingcharacteristic scenes of the news currently selected by the cursor CSare indicated in the thumbnail indicator 349, which is part of thedisplay screen 34.

In the provisional distribution reception screen in FIG. 18, if the userselects the news content one below the currently selected news contentby operating the operation button 33 b, the reception screen is shiftedto that shown in FIG. 19. In response to a change of the news content,thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail indicator 349 are changed tothose including characteristic scenes of the currently selected newscontent.

In the reception screen shown in one of FIGS. 15 through 19, if the userpresses the enter button 32 a or the send button 36, the contentreceiving terminal 30 determines that a final distribution request forthe currently selected content has been conducted, and sends a finaldistribution request including identification information concerning thecurrently selected content to the content distribution server 10. Thecontent identification information is included in the provisionaldistribution list in association with each field of the list.

Upon receiving the final distribution request from the content receivingterminal 30, the content distribution server 10 sends the content datarequested by the identification information included in the finaldistribution request to the content receiving terminal 30.

The content receiving terminal 30 receives the content data by finaldistribution from the content distribution server 10, and displayscontent, such as a movie, news, or an electronic book, on the displayscreen 34, or plays back accompanying sound by the speaker. The finaldistribution display screen is not shown.

As in the first distribution mode, in the second through fourthdistribution modes, only the years are specified as the timeinformation. Alternatively, the time, day, and month may also bespecified as time information. That is, the time information may bespecified in greater details, and content that matches the specifiedtime information can be obtained. In this case, if a plurality ofcontent items are obtained, they are processed as in the firstdistribution mode.

A description is given below, with reference to the correspondingflowcharts, of the content requesting operations performed by thecontent receiving terminals 20, 30, and 40 and the content distributionoperation performed by the content distribution server 10.

Content Requesting Operations by Content Receiving Terminals

The operation performed by a content receiving terminal when the contentdistribution server 10 distributes content in the first distributionmode is described below with reference to the flowchart in FIGS. 20through 22 in the context of the music content receiving terminal 20. Inthis case, it is assumed that the music content receiving terminal 20sends a content providing request in the above-described fourth mode.

The processing shown in FIGS. 20 through 22 is executed by the CPU 201of the music content receiving terminal 20 according to a program storedin the program ROM 202 by using the RAM 203 as a work area.

When the music content receiving terminal 20 is powered ON, the CPU 201starts the processing routine in FIGS. 20 through 22. In step S1, theCPU 201 reads the communication network address of the contentdistribution server 10 stored in the ROM 202 and accesses the contentdistribution server 10.

Then, in step S2, the CPU 201 conducts device authentication with thecontent distribution server 10 and determines whether authentication hassucceeded. If it is determined in step S2 that authentication has notsucceeded, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S3 to inform the user that thecontent receiving terminal 20 retries to access the content distributionserver 10. Then, the CPU 201 returns to step S1 to access the contentdistribution server 10.

If it is determined in step S2 that authentication with the contentdistribution server 10 has succeeded, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S4 toestablish a communication channel with the content distribution server10. In this embodiment, after establishing a communication channel withthe content distribution server 10, the music content receiving terminal20 is constantly connected to the content distribution server 10 via theestablished communication channel until the content receiving terminal20 is powered OFF.

Then, in step S5, the CPU 201 sends a content providing request to thecontent distribution server 10 by including, in the content providingrequest, the time currently specified by the music content receivingterminal 20 together with accompanying information, which includes timeinformation attribute information and category information, andinformation requesting music content.

According to step S5, in this embodiment, the music content receivingterminal 20 can be used as in the form of a radio receiver. If the musiccontent receiving terminal 20 is provided with a so-called last memory,the content providing request sent to the content distribution server 10includes the time information and accompanying information whenreceiving content distribution from the content distribution server 10in response to the previous request.

In step S6, the CPU 201 receives music content sent from the contentdistribution server 10 in response to the content providing request sentin step S5, and performs stream playback on the music content.

The CPU 201 then determines in step S7 whether the user has changed thetime information by operating the turn knob operation unit 23 during thestream playback operation. If it is found in step S7 that the timeinformation has changed, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S8 to change theposition of the time axis cursor 242 in the time axis indicator 241 inaccordance with the changed time information.

Then, the CPU 201 determines in step S9 whether a content providingrequest has been made by determining whether the user has stopped theoperation for changing the time information for a predetermined periodof time. If it is determined in step S9 that a content providing requesthas not been made, and the user is still performing the operation, theCPU 201 returns to step S7 and repeats step S7 and the subsequent steps.

If it is determined in step S9 that a content providing request has beenmade, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S11 to send a content providingrequest to the content distribution server 10 by including, in thecontent providing request, specified time information, accompanyinginformation including attribute information concerning the specifiedtime information and category information, and information requestingthe content distribution server 10 to send music content.

Then, in step S12, the CPU 201 receives music content sent from thecontent distribution server 10 in response to the content providingrequest sent in step S11, and then performs stream playback on the musiccontent.

The CPU 201 then determines in step S13 whether the user has changed thecategory by operating the category changing operation button 25 b duringthe stream playback operation. If it is found in step S13 that thecategory has been changed, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S14 to changethe category displayed in the category display column 245 on the displayscreen 24 in accordance with the category changed by the user.

Before sending a new content providing request to the contentdistribution server 10 in response to a change in the category in stepS13, the CPU 201 determines in step S15 whether the button operationperformed in step S13 indicates that the user has not specified anycategory.

If it is determined in step S15 that the user has not specified anycategory, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S16 to send a content providingrequest to the content distribution server 10 by including, in thecontent providing request, the specified time information together withaccompanying information, which includes attribute informationconcerning the specified time information and information requesting thecontent distribution server 10 to select the category, and informationrequesting music content.

If it is determined in step S15 that the button operation indicates thatthe user has specified a category, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S17 tosend a content providing request to the content distribution server 10by including, in the content providing request, the specified timeinformation together with accompanying information, which includesattribute information concerning the specified time information and thechanged category information, and information requesting music content.

After step S16 or S17, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S18 to receive musiccontent sent from the content distribution server 10 in response to thecontent providing request sent in step S16 or S17, and performs streamplayback on the music content. If it is determined in step S13 that thecategory changing operation button 25 b has not been operated, the CPU201 proceeds to step S18 to receive music content sent from the contentdistribution server 10 and performs stream playback on the musiccontent.

If it is determined in step S7 that the time information has not beenchanged, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S13.

After step S18, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S21 to determine whetherthe user has changed time information attribute information by operatingthe time attribute changing operation button 25 a. If it is found instep S21 that the time information attribute information has beenchanged, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S22 to change the time informationattribute information indicated in the attribute display column 244 onthe display screen 24 in accordance with the changed attributeinformation.

Before sending a new content providing request to the contentdistribution server 10 in response to the attribute information changedin step S21, the CPU 201 determines in step S23 whether the buttonoperation performed in step S21 indicates that the user has notspecified any time attribute.

If it is determined in step S23 that the user has not specified any timeattribute, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S24 to send a content providingrequest to the content distribution server 10 by including, in thecontent providing request, the specified time information together withaccompanying information, which includes information requesting thecontent distribution server 10 to select the time attribute and thespecified category information, and information requesting musiccontent.

If it is determined in step S23 that the button operation indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 201 proceeds to stepS25 to send a content providing request to the content distributionserver 10 by including, in the content providing request, the specifiedtime information together with accompanying information, which includesthe changed time information attribute information and the specifiedcategory information, and information requesting music content.

After step S24 or S25, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S26 to receive musiccontent sent from the content distribution server 10 in response to thecontent providing request sent in step S24 or S25 and performs streamplayback on the music content. If it is determined in step S21 that thetime attribute changing operation button 25 a has not been operated, theCPU 201 proceeds to step S26 to receive music content sent from thecontent distribution server 10 and performs stream playback on the musiccontent.

Then, the CPU 201 determines in step S27 whether the content receivingterminal 20 is powered OFF. If it is found in step S27 that the contentreceiving terminal 20 is not powered OFF, the CPU 201 returns to stepS7. If it is found in step S27 that the content receiving terminal 20 ispowered OFF, the CPU 201 proceeds to step S28 to disconnect thecommunication channel with the content distribution server 10. Theprocessing routine is then completed.

The operation performed by a content receiving terminal when the contentdistribution server 10 distributes content in the fourth distributionmode is described below with reference to the flowchart in FIGS. 23through 25 in the context of the AV content receiving terminal 30. Inthis case, it is assumed that the AV content receiving terminal 30 sendsa content providing request in the above-described fourth mode.

The processing shown in FIGS. 23 through 25 is executed by the CPU 301of the AV content receiving terminal 30 according to a program stored inthe program ROM 302 by using the RAM 303 as a work area.

When the AV content receiving terminal 30 is powered ON, the CPU 301determines in step S31 whether the menu button 35 has been operated. Ifit is found in step S31 that the menu button 35 has not been operated,the CPU 301 proceeds to step S32 to execute other processing.

If it is found in step S31 that the menu button 35 has been operated,the CPU 301 proceeds to step S33 to display a list menu of functionsprovided for the AV content receiving terminal 30 on the display screen34. Then, the CPU 301 determines in step S34 whether the AV contentdistribution function has been selected.

If it is found in step S34 that a function other than the AV contentdistribution function has been selected, the CPU 301 proceeds to stepS35 to execute other processing corresponding to the selected function.

If it is found in step S34 that the AV content distribution function hasbeen selected, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S36 to read thecommunication network address of the content distribution server 10stored in the program ROM 302 to access the content distribution server10.

Then, the CPU 301 conducts device authentication with the contentdistribution server 10 and determines in step S37 whether authenticationhas succeeded. If authentication has not succeeded in step S37, the CPU301 proceeds to step S38 to inform the user that the AV contentreceiving terminal 30 retries to access the content distribution server10. The CPU 301 then returns to step S36 to access the contentdistribution server 10.

If it is determined in step S37 that authentication has succeeded, theCPU 301 proceeds to step S39 to establish a communication channel withthe content distribution server 10. In this embodiment, afterestablishing a communication channel with the content distributionserver 10, the AV content receiving terminal 30 is constantly connectedto the content distribution server 10 via the established communicationchannel until the AV content receiving terminal 30 is powered OFF.

Then, in step S40, the CPU 301 displays an operation input screen forrequesting AV content by using time information. An example of theoperation input screen is shown in FIG. 6.

The CPU 301 then determines in step S41 whether the user has changedtime information by operating the horizontal direction specifying button33 c or 33 d on the operation input screen. If it is found in step S41that the time information has been changed, the CPU 301 proceeds to stepS42 to change the position of the time axis cursor 342 in the time axisindicator 341 in accordance with the changed time information.

The CPU 301 then determines in step S51 whether the category has beenchanged. If it is determined in step S51 that the category has not beenchanged, or after step S52, the CPU 301 determines in step S53 whetherthe user has changed time information attribute information by operatingthe time attribute changing operation button 32 b. If it is determinedin step S53 that the time information attribute information has beenchanged, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S54 to change the time informationattribute information indicated in the time information attributedisplay column 344 on the display screen 34 in accordance with the timeattribute changed by the user.

If it is determined in step S53 that the time information attributeinformation has not been changed or after step S54, the CPU 301determines in step S55 whether the user has requested contentprovisional distribution by operating the enter button 32 a or the sendbutton 36.

If it is found in step S55 that content provisional distribution has notbeen requested, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S56 to determine whetherthe menu button 35 has been operated.

If it is found in step S56 that the menu button 35 has not beenoperated, the CPU 301 returns to step S41. If the menu button 35 hasbeen operated, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S57 to disconnect thecommunication channel with the content distribution server 10. The CPU301 then returns to step S33.

If it is determined in step S55 that the user has requested contentprovisional distribution by operating the enter button 32 a or the sendbutton 36, the CPU 301 sends a new content providing request to thecontent distribution server 10. However, before sending a contentproviding request, the CPU 301 determines whether the button operationperformed in step S55 indicates that the user has not specified anycategory or any attribute.

The CPU 301 first determines in step S58 that the button operationindicates that the user has not specified any category. If the user hasnot specified any category, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S59 todetermine whether the button operation indicates that the user has notspecified any time attribute.

If it is determined in step S59 that the user has not specify any timeattribute, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S60 to send a content providingrequest by including, in the content providing request, the specifiedtime information together with accompanying information, which includesinformation requesting the content distribution server 10 to select thetime attribute and category, and information requesting AV content.

If it is determined in step S59 that the button operation indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 301 proceeds to stepS71 to send a content providing request to the content distributionserver 10 by including, in the content providing request, the specifiedtime information together with accompanying information, which includesinformation requesting the content distribution server 10 to select thecategory and the specified time information attribute information, andinformation requesting AV content.

If it is determined in step S58 that the button operation indicates thatthe user has specified a category, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S61 todetermine whether the button operation indicates that the user has notspecified any time attribute.

If it is determined in step S61 that the button operation indicates thatthe user has not specified any time attribute, the CPU 301 proceeds tostep S62 to send a content providing request to the content distributionserver 10 by including, in the content providing request, the specifiedtime information together with accompanying information, which includesthe specified category and information requesting the contentdistribution server 10 to select the time attribute, and informationrequesting AV content.

If it is determined in step S61 that the button operation indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 301 proceeds to stepS72 to send a content providing request to the content distributionserver 10 by including, in the content providing request, the specifiedtime information together with accompanying information, which includesthe specified time information attribute information and the specifiedcategory, and information requesting AV content.

After step S60, S62, S71, or S72, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S73 toreceive a list of AV content items and thumbnail image data of thecurrently selected content sent from the content distribution server 10in response to the content providing request sent in step S60, S62, S71,or S72 and displays the received list and thumbnail image on the displayscreen 34, as in that in FIG. 15.

Then, the CPU 301 determines in step S74 whether the selection of AVcontent in the AV content list has been changed. If it is determined instep S74 that the selection of the AV content has been changed, the CPU301 proceeds to step S75 to change the position of the cursor to theselected AV content and also displays the thumbnail image of theselected AV content.

If it is determined in step S74 that the selection of AV content has notbeen changed or after step S75, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S76 todetermine whether the user has requested content final distribution byoperating the enter button 32 a or the send button 36.

If it is determined in step S76 that the user has not requested contentfinal distribution, the CPU 301 returns to step S73. If it is determinedin step S76 that the user has requested content final distribution, theCPU 301 proceeds to step S77 to send a final distribution requestincluding identification information concerning the selected AV contentto the content distribution server 10.

Then, in step S78, the CPU 301 receives the AV content data sent fromthe content distribution server 10 by final distribution, decodes thedata, and then performs stream playback on the data. The CPU 301 thendisplays the image data on the display screen 34 and also outputs theaudio data from the speaker.

The CPU 301 then determines in step S79 whether the user has finishedwatching or listening to the content. Step S79 can be executed, not onlywhen the user finishes watching or listening to the content, but alsowhile the user is watching or listening to the content. If it isdetermined in step S79 that the user has not finished watching orlistening to the content, the CPU 301 returns to step S78 and continuesto play back the AV content. If it is determined in step S79 that theuser has finished the AV content, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S80 tosend a content completion message to the content distribution server 10.Then, the CPU 301 returns to step S40 to display the operation inputscreen for requesting AV content distribution. The processing routinehas been performed as described above.

In this example, a content completion message is not sent to the contentdistribution server 10 until the user finishes watching or listening tothe content. Alternatively, if a predetermined period of time haselapsed after receiving AV content sent from the content distributionserver 10 by final distribution, the CPU 301 may assume that the userhas finished watching or listening to the content, and sends a contentcompletion message to the content distribution server 10 and thenreturns to step S40.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 20 through 22 and FIGS. 23 through 25,when categories or time attributes have not been specified, informationrequesting the content distribution server 10 to select the category orthe time attribute is sent to the content distribution server 10.However, information indicating that categories or time attributes havenot been specified may be simply sent to the content distribution server10.

In this case, the content distribution server 10 may assume that it canselect any time attribute or category, and provides content specified bya recommended category or time attribute or content specified by apredetermined category or time attribute to the content providingterminal.

An example of the operation performed by the content distribution server10 is discussed below with reference to the flowchart in FIGS. 26through 30. In this example, the content distribution server 10distributes music content in the first distribution mode and distributesAV content in the fourth distribution mode. Other types of content aretransmitted in the distribution modes according to the characteristicsof the content, though an explanation thereof is omitted here. Ifaccompanying information, such as the category or time informationattribute, is not specified, predetermined, recommended attributeinformation, such as category information or time information attributeinformation, is used.

The processing shown in FIGS. 26 through 30 is executed by the CPU 101according to a program stored in the program ROM 102 by using the RAM103 as a work area.

In step S81, the CPU 101 monitors access from a content receivingterminal and determines whether access is received from a contentreceiving terminal. If access is received, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS82 to conduct device authentication with the accessed content receivingterminal and determines whether device authentication has succeeded. Ifdevice authentication has not succeeded, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS83 to inform the content receiving terminal that authentication hasfailed, and then returns to step S81.

If it is determined in step S82 that device authentication hassucceeded, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S84 to determine whether acontent providing request has been received from the content receivingterminal. If it is found in step S84 that a content providing requesthas been received, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S85 to analyze thereceived content providing request.

Then, the CPU 101 determines in step S86 whether the requested contentis music content. If music content is requested in step S86, the CPU 101performs processing in the first distribution mode.

More specifically, in step S91, the CPU 101 first analyzes accompanyinginformation contained in the content providing request to determinewhether an analysis result indicates that the user has not specified anycategory. If it is determined in step S91 that the analysis resultindicates that the user has specified a category, the CPU 101 proceedsto step S92 to determine whether the analysis result indicates whetherthe user has not specified any time attribute.

If it is determined in step S92 that the analysis results indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS93 to generate search conditions based on the specified category, timeinformation attribute information, and time information, and searchesthe content database 11 according to the generated search conditions.

If it is determined in step S92 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has not specified any time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds tostep S94 to generate search conditions based on the specified category,predetermined, recommended time information attribute information, andthe specified time information, and searches the content database 11according to the generated search conditions.

If it is determined in step S91 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has not specified any category, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS101 to determine whether the analysis result indicates that the userhas not specify any time attribute.

If it is determined in step S101 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS102 to generate search conditions based on a predetermined, recommendedcategory, the specified time information attribute information, and thespecified time information, and searches the content database 11according to the generated search conditions.

If it is determined in step S101 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has not specified any time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds tostep S103 to generate predetermined, recommended category and timeattribute, and the specified time information, and searches the contentdatabase 11 according to the generated search conditions.

After step S93, S94, S102, or S103, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S95 tosequentially send music content data to the content receiving terminalin a random order as a search result.

Then, the CPU 101 determines in step S96 whether a request to disconnectthe communication channel has been received from the content receivingterminal. If it is determined in step S96 that a request to disconnectthe communication channel has not been received, the CPU 101 determinesin step S97 whether a new content providing request has been receivedfrom the content receiving terminal.

If it is found in step S97 that a new content providing request has beenreceived, the CPU 101 returns to step S85. If it is determined in stepS97 that a new content providing request has not been received, the CPU101 returns to step S95 and continues to distribute the current contentdata.

If it is determined in step S96 that a request to disconnect thecommunication channel has been received from the content receivingterminal, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S98 to disconnect thecommunication channel with the content receiving terminal. Then, theprocessing routine is completed.

If it is determined in step S86 that the requested content is not musiccontent, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S87 to determine whether therequested content is AV content. If it is found in step S87 that therequested content is not AV content, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S88 toexecute processing in a distribution mode corresponding to the requestedtype of content.

If the requested content is found to be AV content in step S87, the CPU101 determines that the content providing request received in step S84is a provisional distribution request, and executes the processing inthe fourth distribution mode.

More specifically, in step S111, the CPU 101 analyzes the accompanyinginformation contained in the content providing request to determinewhether the analysis result indicates that the user has not specifiedany category. If the analysis result indicates that the user hasspecified a category, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S112 to determinewhether the analysis result indicates that the user has not specifiedany time attribute.

If it is determined in step S112 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS113 to generate search conditions based on the specified category, timeinformation attribute information, and time information, and searchesthe content database 11 according to the generated search conditions.

If it is determined in step S112 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has not specified any time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds tostep S114 to generate search conditions based on the specified category,predetermined, recommended time information attribute information, andthe specified time information, and searches the content database 11according to the generated search conditions.

If it is determined in step S111 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has not specified any category, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS131 to determine whether the analysis result indicates that the userhas not specified any time attribute.

If it is determined in step S131 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has specified a time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS132 to generate search conditions based on a predetermined, recommendedcategory, the specified time information attribute information, and thespecified time information, and searches the content database 11according to the generated search conditions.

If it is determined in step S131 that the analysis result indicates thatthe user has not specified any time attribute, the CPU 101 proceeds tostep S133 to generate search conditions based on predetermined,recommended category and time information attribute information, and thespecified time information, and searches the content database 11according to the generated search conditions.

After step S113, S114, S132, or S133, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S115to send a list of one or a plurality of content items arranged in arandom order and thumbnail image data of each content item to thecontent receiving terminal.

The CPU 101 then determines in step S116 whether a request to provide acontent item selected from the list by final distribution has beenreceived. If such a final distribution request has been received in stepS116, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S117 to read the AV content datarequested by the identification information included in the finaldistribution request from the content database 11 and sends it to thecontent receiving terminal.

The CPU 101 then determines in step S118 whether a content completionmessage has been received from the content receiving terminal. If acontent completion message has not been received, the CPU 101 returns tostep S117 to continue to distribute the content. If a content completionmessage has been received, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S119 todetermine whether a request to disconnect the communication channel hasbeen received from the content receiving terminal. If a request todisconnect the communication channel has not been received, the CPU 101returns to step S84 to wait for a new content providing request from thecontent receiving terminal.

If it is determined in step S119 that a request to disconnect thecommunication channel has been received, the CPU 101 proceeds to stepS121 to disconnect the communication channel with the content receivingterminal. Then, the processing routine is completed.

If it is determined in step S116 that a request to send specific AVcontent has not been received, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S120 todetermine whether a request to disconnect the communication channel hasbeen received. If a request to disconnect the communication channel hasnot been received, the CPU 101 returns to step S116 to wait for a finaldistribution request from the content receiving terminal.

If it is determined in step S120 that a request to disconnect thecommunication channel has been received from the content receivingterminal, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S121 to disconnect thecommunication channel with the content receiving terminal. Theprocessing routine is then completed.

In this example, the content distribution server 10 determines thatcontent final distribution has finished by receiving a contentcompletion message from the content receiving terminal. Alternatively,if a predetermined period of time has elapsed after sending the entirecontent data by the content distribution server 10, the CPU 101 mayassume that content final distribution has finished without sending acontent completion message.

MODIFIED EXAMPLES

In the above-described embodiment, the content attribute information hasbeen discussed in the context of the content category. However, othercontent attributes may be specified for requesting content, in whichcase, the content attributes may be selected in a hierarchicalstructure. For example, the type of content attribute, such as thecategory, artist (players or cast), or author, can be selected first,and then, the attribute of the selected type of attribute can beselected. For example, if the artist is selected as the type of contentattribute, a list of artists is displayed and the user can select aspecific artist from the list.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the user can request content of aspecific artist, for example, content in a specific year, contentreleased at a specific date, or content which was popular in a specificyear or date.

The content receiving terminal may be a dedicated terminal forrequesting specific content having specific attribute information, suchas specific time information. For example, the music content receivingterminal 20 may be a dedicated terminal for requesting hit tunes of acertain year or a certain date. In this case, the terminal canautomatically include the type of content and specific attributeinformation, such as specific time information, in a content providingrequest. This saves the user from inputting information other than thetime information into the terminal. It is not necessary that specificattribute information be always included, in which case, recommendedcontent can be obtained from a content distribution server.

Although in this embodiment the time information attribute informationinput column and the category information input column are provided forthe content receiving terminals, only an input unit for time informationmay be provided for such a dedicated terminal. In this case, the contentreceiving terminal includes information for specifying the desiredcontent can be included in a content providing request.

In the foregoing embodiment, the content receiving terminal searches fora specific piece of content by associating time information, and ifnecessary, accompanying information, with that piece of content. If aplurality of types of content data are stored in a content database, aplurality of types of content may be requested by specifying timeinformation, and if necessary, accompanying information.

Additionally, the content receiving terminal may request content withoutspecifying the type of content. In this case, the content receivingterminal can request all types of content stored in the content databaseof the content distribution server.

With this arrangement, by specifying a year or a date, the user cansearch for various types of content corresponding to the specified yearor date, which is useful for searching for content of a specific era ofthe history. The user can also search various types of content forcreating his/her personal history.

In the above-described embodiment, list information, for example, an AVcontent list, is formed of text fields associated with individual piecesof content. However, instead of text, images, such as disk jacket imagesor thumbnail images, may be arranged together with descriptions thereof.

If a specified time has a time range, such as 60s or 70 s, contentitems, for example, disk jackets, as a search result may be arranged inchronological order in the depth direction of the display screen.

In the foregoing embodiment, the content providing system using anetwork, such as the Internet, has been discussed. A home network, suchas a home network using lamp wire or a wireless home network, may beused in the content providing system.

In a home network, for example, a personal computer having a built-in orexternal large-capacity recording medium may be used as a home server,and a content database storing content data and attribute informationmay be provided for the home server.

The user can store content recorded by using a broadcast programrecorder in the content database via the home network, or reads contentdata from a removable and rewritable recording medium and stores it inthe content database.

The user can also access an external source by using the personalcomputer via the Internet to collect various items of content and storesthem in the content database.

In this case, it is preferable that the function of adding recordingdates to recorded content and sending the content to the contentdatabase be provided for a broadcast program recorder. The function ofextracting broadcast dates from an electronic program guide (EPG) andsending content together with the broadcast dates to the contentdatabase may be provided for the broadcast program recorder.

In this home network system, a content receiving terminal, such as aportable terminal, can send a content providing request, which iscreated by the processing described above, to the home server, and thenreceives content.

The above-described modifications of the foregoing embodiment may beapplied to the home network system.

In the above-described embodiment, the content receiving terminal andthe content distribution server are different elements, and they areconnected through a communication network. However, a content providingapparatus having both the functions of the content receiving terminaland the functions of the content distribution server may be provided.

In this case, the content providing apparatus has a content database andalso has a function similar to the content requesting function of thecontent receiving terminal and a function similar to the contentdistributing function of the content distribution server.

That is, in this modification, the user can request content byperforming an input operation using the operation unit without accessinga content distribution server from a content receiving terminal, andthen, the content database is automatically searched in the contentproviding apparatus. Then, processing corresponding to that performed bya content distribution server and processing corresponding to thatperformed by a content receiving terminal according to each of the firstthrough fourth distribution modes are performed in the content providingapparatus so that a content search result can be obtained in the contentproviding apparatus.

That is, in the content providing apparatus, the content database issearched based on the input operation performed by the user through theoperation unit. Then, images are displayed and sound is played back as asearch result. In this case, a speaker and a headphone as a soundplayback unit may be externally connected to the content providingapparatus, in which case, the content providing apparatus includes anaudio output terminal and a video output terminal.

Accordingly, the content providing apparatus at least includes a contentdatabase, a time information input receiver for receiving the input oftime information by the user, a search unit for searching at least onecontent item stored in a content storage unit according to searchconditions based on the time information received by the timeinformation input receiver and accompanying information for specifying arange of content items searched by using the time information, and aproviding unit for providing at least one content item searched by thesearch unit to the user.

If necessary, the content providing apparatus includes an input unit forinputting time information attribute information and an input unit forinputting content attribute. As discussed above, however, the contentproviding apparatus can use time information attribute information orcontent attribute information as search conditions without theabove-described input units.

The above-described modifications of the foregoing embodiment may beapplied to the content providing apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, content items that match specifiedtime information are searched. If the specified time information is veryprecise, for example, the second, minute, hour, day, month, and year,not only content items exactly matching the specified time, but alsocontent items around the specified time may be obtained as a searchresult. Even if the specified time information is not very precise,content items around the specified time may also be obtained as a searchresult.

This enables the user to request content even if the user does notremember the exact time. That is, the user can obtain content items byspecifying only a rough time. With this arrangement, the possibilitythat the user can obtain desired content is increased.

Additionally, in the above-described embodiment, stream playback isperformed on music content or AV content while being distributed fromthe content distribution server. However, each content data may bedownloaded and is then played back. In this case, in the contentproviding system, it is not necessary to constantly connect a contentreceiving terminal with the content distribution server. Instead, thecommunication channel between the content receiving terminal and thecontent distribution server can be disconnected every time downloadingis finished.

In this case, the music content receiving terminal 20 downloads thecontent item first obtained when a request was sent to the contentdistribution server 10. In a terminal provided with the next button 25 cshown in FIG. 13, when the user presses the next button 25 c, a contentproviding request having the same search conditions as the previousrequest is sent to the content distribution server 10. Then, the contentdistribution server 10 sends a different content item since thereceiving time of the current request is different from that of theprevious request.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A content providing system comprising: a content distribution server;and a content receiving terminal connected to the content distributionserver through a communication channel, wherein the content distributionserver includes: a content storage unit in which a plurality of contentitems are stored in association with at least time informationconcerning each of the plurality of content items and attributeinformation concerning the time information; search means for searching,in response to a content providing request including time informationand accompanying information for specifying a range of content items tobe searched by using the time information sent from the contentreceiving terminal, the content storage unit for at least one contentitem according to a search condition based on the time information andthe accompanying information included in the content providing request;and distribution means for distributing the at least one content itemsearched by the search means to the content receiving terminal; andwherein the content receiving terminal includes: time information inputmeans for receiving the input of time information; request sending meansfor sending, to the content distribution server, a content providingrequest including the input time information and accompanyinginformation for specifying a range of content items to be searched byusing the time information; and providing means for providing at leastone content item sent from the content distribution server to a user. 2.The content providing system according to claim 1, wherein, in thecontent storage unit of the content distribution server, at least oneset of time information concerning each of the content items andattribute information concerning the time information is stored, and therequest sending means includes the attribute information concerning thetime information in the content providing request as the accompanyinginformation.
 3. The content providing system according to claim 2,wherein the content receiving terminal further includes time attributeinformation input means for receiving the input of the attributeinformation concerning the time information, and the request sendingmeans includes the attribute information concerning the time informationreceived by the time attribute information input means in the contentproviding request as the accompanying information.
 4. The contentproviding system according to claim 1, wherein, content attributeinformation is stored in the content storage unit of the contentdistribution server together with the time information, in associationwith each of the content items; the content receiving terminal furtherincludes content attribute information input means for receiving theinput of the content attribute information; and the request sendingmeans includes the content attribute information received by the contentattribute information input means in the content providing request asthe accompanying information.
 5. The content providing system accordingto claim 1, wherein, when a plurality of content items are provided as asearch result by the search means of the content distribution server,the distribution means sequentially sends the plurality of content itemsto the content receiving terminal.
 6. The content providing systemaccording to claim 5, wherein the distribution means of the contentdistribution server sequentially sends part of each of the plurality ofcontent items to the content receiving terminal, and also sends, inresponse to a content determination instruction from the contentreceiving terminal, the entirety of a content item which is being sentwhen receiving the content determination instruction to the contentreceiving terminal; the providing means of the content receivingterminal sequentially plays back part of each of the plurality ofcontent items sent from the content distribution server; the contentreceiving terminal further includes; determining means for receiving aninput operation for a content determination instruction when part ofeach of the plurality of content items is being played back; and meansfor sending the content determination instruction to the contentdistribution server when the input operation for the contentdetermination instruction is received by the determining means; and theproviding means receives content sent from the content distributionserver in response to the content determination instruction and providesthe received content to the user.
 7. The content providing systemaccording to claim 5, wherein the content receiving terminal furtherincludes next request input means for receiving an input operation for anext request for a next content item while a content item received fromthe content distribution server is being provided to the user by theproviding means; and means for sending the next request to the contentdistribution server when the input operation for the next request isreceived by the next request input means; and wherein the distributionmeans of the content distribution server discontinues the distributionof the content item which is being sent to the content receivingterminal when receiving the next request from the content receivingterminal, and starts distributing the next content item.
 8. The contentproviding system according to claim 1, wherein the content distributionserver further includes content list sending means for sending listinformation concerning a plurality of content items searched by thesearch means to the content receiving terminal, and the distributionmeans receives, from the content receiving terminal, specifyinginformation concerning one of the plurality of content items in the listinformation sent by the content list sending means, and sends thecontent item specified by the specifying information to the contentreceiving terminal.
 9. A content distribution server connected to acontent receiving terminal through a communication channel to form,together with the content receiving terminal, a content providingsystem, the content distribution server comprising: a content storageunit in which a plurality of content items are stored in associationwith at least time information concerning each of the plurality ofcontent items and attribute information concerning the time information;search means for searching, in response to a content providing requestsent from the content receiving terminal including time information andaccompanying information for specifying a range of content items to besearched the content storage unit for at least one content itemaccording to a search condition based on the time information and theaccompanying information included in the content providing request; anddistribution means for distributing said at least one content itemsearched by the search means to the content receiving terminal.
 10. Thecontent distribution server according to claim 9, wherein, in thecontent storage unit, at least one set of time information concerningeach of the content items and attribute information concerning the timeinformation is stored, and the attribute information concerning the timeinformation is included in the accompanying information.
 11. A contentreceiving terminal connected to a content distribution server through acommunication channel to form, together with the content distributionserver, a content providing system, a plurality of content items beingstored in the content distribution server in association with at leasttime information concerning each of the plurality of content items andattribute information concerning the time information, the contentreceiving terminal comprising: time information input means forreceiving the input of time information; request sending means forsending a content providing request including the input time informationand accompanying information for specifying a range of content items tobe searched by using the time information to the content distributionserver; and means for providing at least one content item sent from thecontent distribution server to a user.
 12. The content receivingterminal according to claim 11, wherein the content distribution serverstores at least one set of time information concerning each of thecontent items and attribute information concerning the time information,wherein the content receiving terminal further comprises time attributeinformation input means for receiving the input of the attributeinformation concerning the time information, and the request sendingmeans includes the attribute information concerning the time informationreceived by the time attribute information input means in the contentproviding request as the accompanying information.
 13. The contentreceiving terminal according to claim 11, wherein the contentdistribution server stores content attribute information, together withthe time information, in association with each of the content items,wherein the content receiving terminal further comprises contentattribute information input means for receiving the input of the contentattribute information, and the request sending means includes thecontent attribute information received by the content attributeinformation input means in the content providing request as theaccompanying information.
 14. A content providing apparatus comprising:a content storage unit in which a plurality of content items are storedin association with at least time information concerning each of theplurality of content items and attribute information concerning the timeinformation; time information input means for receiving the input oftime information; search means for searching the content storage unitfor at least one content item according to a search condition based onthe time information received by the time information input means andaccompanying information for specifying a range of content items to besearched by using the time information; and means for providing at leastone content item searched by the search means to a user.
 15. The contentproviding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in the contentstorage unit, at least one set of time information concerning each ofthe content items and attribute information concerning the timeinformation is stored, the content providing apparatus further comprisestime attribute information input means for receiving the input of theattribute information concerning the time information, and the searchmeans determines a search condition by including the attributeinformation concerning the time information received by the timeattribute information input means in the accompanying information. 16.The content providing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein contentattribute information is stored in the content storage unit, togetherwith the time information, in association with each of the contentitems, the content providing apparatus further comprises contentattribute information input means for receiving the input of the contentattribute information, and the search means determines a searchcondition by including the content attribute information received by thecontent attribute information input means in the accompanyinginformation.
 17. A content providing method for a content providingsystem including a content distribution server and a content receivingterminal connected to the content distribution server through acommunication channel, the content providing method comprising the stepsof: receiving, by the content receiving terminal, an input of timeinformation; sending, by the content receiving terminal, a contentproviding request including the input time information and accompanyinginformation for specifying a range of content items to be searched byusing the time information to the content distribution server;providing, by the content receiving terminal, at least one content itemsent from the content distribution server to a user; receiving, by thecontent distribution server, the content providing request from thecontent receiving terminal; searching, by the content distributionserver, in response to the content providing request including the timeinformation and the accompanying information for specifying a range ofcontent items to be searched by using the time information sent from thecontent receiving terminal, a content storage unit for at least onecontent item according to a search condition based on the timeinformation and the accompanying information included in the contentproviding request, the content storage unit storing a plurality ofcontent items in association with at least time information concerningeach of the plurality of content items and attribute informationconcerning the time information; and distributing the at least onecontent item which is searched to the content receiving terminal.
 18. Acontent providing method for reading and providing a content item from acontent storage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored inassociation with at least time information concerning each of theplurality of content items and attribute information concerning the timeinformation, the content providing method comprising the steps of:receiving an input of time information; searching the content storageunit for at least one content item according to a search condition basedon the received time information and accompanying information forspecifying a range of content items to be searched by using the timeinformation; and providing said at least one content item which issearched to a user.
 19. A content providing system comprising: a contentdistribution server; and a content receiving terminal connected to thecontent distribution server through a communication channel, wherein thecontent distribution server includes: a content storage unit in which aplurality of content items are stored in association with at least timeinformation concerning each of the plurality of content items andattribute information concerning the time information; a search unitconfigured to search, in response to a content providing requestincluding time information and accompanying information for specifying arange of content items to be searched by using the time information sentfrom the content receiving terminal, the content storage unit for atleast one content item according to a search condition based on the timeinformation and the accompanying information included in the contentproviding request; and a distributor configured to distribute said atleast one content item searched by the search unit to the contentreceiving terminal; and the content receiving terminal includes: a timeinformation input unit configured to receive the input of timeinformation, a request sender configured to send a content providingrequest including the input time information and accompanyinginformation for specifying a range of content items to be searched byusing the time information to the content distribution server, and aprovider configured to provide at least one content item sent from thecontent distribution server to a user.
 20. A content distribution serverconnected to a content receiving terminal through a communicationchannel to form, together with the content receiving terminal, a contentproviding system, the content distribution server comprising: a contentstorage unit in which a plurality of content items are stored inassociation with at least time information concerning each of theplurality of content items and attribute information concerning the timeinformation; a search unit configured to search, in response to acontent providing request including time information and accompanyinginformation for specifying a range of content items to be searched byusing the time information sent from the content receiving terminal, thecontent storage unit for at least one content item according to a searchcondition based on the time information and the accompanying informationincluded in the content providing request; and a distributor configuredto distribute the at least one content item searched by the search unitto the content receiving terminal.
 21. A content receiving terminalconnected to a content distribution server through a communicationchannel to form, together with the content distribution server, acontent providing system, a plurality of content items being stored inthe content distribution server in association with at least timeinformation concerning each of the plurality of content items andattribute information concerning the time information, the contentreceiving terminal comprising: a time information input unit configuredto receive the input of time information; a request sender configured tosend a content providing request including the input time informationand accompanying information for specifying a range of content items tobe searched by using the time information to the content distributionserver; and a provider configured to provide at least one content itemsent from the content distribution server to a user.
 22. A contentproviding apparatus comprising: a content storage unit in which aplurality of content items are stored in association with at least timeinformation concerning each of the plurality of content items andattribute information concerning the time information; a timeinformation input unit configured to receive a input of timeinformation; a search unit configured to search the content storage unitfor at least one content item according to a search condition based onthe time information received by the time information input unit andaccompanying information for specifying a range of content items to besearched by using the time information; and a provider configured toprovide said at least one content item searched by the search unit to auser.